Here's some not-so-great news, considering many of us will be moving into chillier weather in the upcoming months: New research shows that cold weather might not be good for our hearts.


Two new studies, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2013, show that cold weather not only seems to be linked with heart risk factors, but it also seems to be associated with more heart attacks.


The first study, conducted by Dr. Pedro Marques-Vidal of Switzerland, shows that heart risk factors[1] , including high blood pressure, cholesterol and waist circumference, seemed to be higher than average in the winter months -- particularly January and February -- and lower than average in the summer months -- particularly June, July and August. The findings are based on data from 10 studies from seven European countries, which included a total of 107,090 people between the ages of 35 and 80.


For example, systolic blood pressure levels (the top number on a blood pressure reading) were 3.5 millimeters of mercury lower, on average, during the summer than the winter. Meanwhile, waist circumference was 1 centimeter, on average, smaller during the summer than the winter. Total cholesterol was 0.24 millimoles per liter lower, on average, during the summer than the winter.


"We observed a seasonal variation in waist circumference but BMI did not change throughout the year," Marques-Vidal said in a statement. "We have no clear explanation for this finding. Total cholesterol[2] may increase during the winter because of changes in eating habits. There was no seasonal variation in glucose, probably because several cohorts did not collect blood samples in the fasting state. We have begun a study on seasonality of food intake which may help explain these findings."


In the second study, conducted by Belgian researcher Marc Claeys, an association was found between lower temperatures and increased heart attack risk[3] .


Specifically, heart attack risk went up by 7 percent for every 10 degree Celsius drop in temperature. However, researchers were unable to find any link between heart attack risk and air pollution[4] , contrary to other research[5] . The study is based on data from 15,964 people who had experienced heart attack, with an average age of 63.



"A potential mechanism to explain the increased risk of coronary events[6] associated with decreasing temperature is the stimulation of cold receptors in the skin and therefore the sympathetic nervous system, leading to a rise in catecholamine levels," Claeys explained in a statement. "Moreover, increased platelet aggregation and blood viscosity during cold exposure promotes thrombosis and clot formation."





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  • Meditate


    Meditation can help maintain a calm and focused mind, but one side benefit of that relaxation could also help with blood pressure. When relaxed, the body produces more nitric oxide, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2008/08/21/93796200/to-lower-blood-pressure-open-up-and-say-om">which in turn helps blood vessels to open up, reducing the pressure of the blood flowing through</a>.




  • Adopt A Pet


    Research shows that <a href="http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/5-ways-pets-improve-your-health">pet owners have lower blood pressure</a> (also: lower cholesterol and heart disease risk), thanks to the anxiety-reducing qualities of an animal companion.




  • Work On Your Marriage


    In one 2008 study in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500368_162-3955956.html">researchers found that happily married adults had better blood pressure</a> than happily single and unhappily married adults.




  • Get Moving


    This one's a no-brainer, but exercise is one of the best ways to lower blood pressure. There are many ways that the simple act of moderate exercise can improve your blood pressure (and overall health). First, it helps with other risk factors for hypertension, like extra weight and stress. But exercise also improves the strength of your heart so that <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00024">it can more effectively and efficiently pump blood, which lowers the pressure on the arteries</a>.




  • Stick To One Or Two Drinks


    Moderate drinking -- one drink for women and men over 65 and two drinks for younger men -- can actually help reduce blood pressure. <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00027">But more than that has the opposite effect</a>, according to the Mayo Clinic.




  • Monitor Your Caffeine


    There is some evidence that caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure, though it's unclear if there is a long-term effect. The <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00027/NSECTIONGROUP=2">Mayo Clinic recommends</a> checking blood pressure 30 minutes after a cup of coffee or caffeinated soda to see if the effect remains.




  • Quit Smoking -- And Smokers


    Of course, for this and many other reasons, you should quit smoking. But even second-hand smoke can have a damaging effect on your blood pressure <a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/UnderstandYourRiskforHighBloodPressure/Understand-Your-Risk-for-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002052_Article.jsp">because it damages arteries</a>.




  • Choose Pressure-Lowering Foods


    Several foods have been found to naturally lower blood pressure. Things like chili peppers, chocolate, beans and bananas have all been proven to lower blood pressure in humans or in trials with rats. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/raisins-and-7-other-foods-lower-blood-pressure_n_1382535.html#slide=817449">Read on for more here</a>.




  • Keep Weight Under Control


    Eating well is essential to maintaining healthy blood pressure, but even if you live on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/raisins-and-7-other-foods-lower-blood-pressure_n_1382535.html#slide=817449">beans and bananas</a>, extra pounds could harm you. In fact, one Italian study found that <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070928180348.htm">hypertension in overweight patients was a secondary condition, caused by the excess weight</a>. In other words, once the weight was lost, the high blood pressure went with it.




  • Stay Away From Salt


    Perhaps the best known advice for healthy blood pressure is maintaining a low sodium diet. Follow the <a href="http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/faq.asp">USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>: a max of 2,300 mg of sodium for healthy, young adults -- or 1,500 mg a day or fewer for those who are over 50, African-American or suffering from diabetes or chronic kidney disease.