Heart Association offers winter tips

The American Heart Associations has begun Operation Winter Weather Warnings, an educational campaign targeted at individuals with existing heart disease or stroke and those who may be at high risk.

This includes individuals with high blood pressure, those who are overweight, smokers, those with high cholesterol, those with a strong family history and the sedentary.

For these individuals, the stresses of the season may pose extra concern, and the association is urging individuals to exercise due caution to avoid sudden cardiac death.

Deaths from coronary artery disease tend to rise rapidly right after Thanksgiving, continuing through Christmas and peaking around New Year's Day.

The American Heart Association recommends the following tips to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest:

Avoid sudden cold weather exertion

Snowstorms present particular challenges for everyone, primarily because getting rid of the snow usually means sudden exertion in cold weather. In and of itself, snow shoveling can be a heathy, good exercise but not if you are normally sedentary and not if you are in poor physical condition or have risk factors that make snow shoveling inadvisable for your health.

Everyone who must be outdoors in cold weather should avoid sudden exertion, like lifting a heavy shovel full of snow. Even walking through heavy, wet snow or snowdrifts can strain a person's heart.

Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia

Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below normal. It occurs when your body can't produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough. It can kill you. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. Symptoms include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.

Children, the elderly and those with heart disease are at special risk. As people age, their ability to maintain a a normal internal temperature often decreases. Because elderly people seem overly insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they're in danger.

Stay warm

People with coronary heart disease often suffer chest pain or discomfort called angina pectoris when they're in cold weather. Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain also can steal body heat. Wind is especially dangerous because it removes the layer of heat from around your body.

At 30 degrees Fahrenheit in a 20-mph wind, the cooling effect is equal to calm air at 4 degrees. Similarly, dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions.

To keep warm, wear layers of clothing. This traps air between layers, forming a protective insulation. Also wear a hat or head scarf.

Avoid alcohol before heading outdoors

Alcohol gives an initial feeling of warmth, but this is caused by expanding blood vessels in the skin. Heat is then drawn away from the body's vital organs. Alcohol consumption and physical activity in harsh winter weather conditions can increase the likelihood of hypothermia.

Learn CPR

Each year we read about the tragedies that befall families when they lose a love one to sudden cardiac death. There is much we can do to prevent such tragedies from happening., Why not add a gift of life this year to your shopping list?

Learn CPR. Be an American heart saver. Learn it for someone you love. The American Heart Association conducts courses convenient for everyone. To access a course listing, log on to www. americanheart. org.