Question
My husband has heart disease. I heard that someone with this condition needs to be careful in the cold weather. We'll be vacationing in Lake Tahoe soon, so I'd like to know how cold weather affects the heart. Should we cancel the trip?
Answer
Great question. Here are a few additional thoughts about your particular situation:
- You mentioned a trip to Lake Tahoe, so keep in mind that altitude by itself, even without the cold weather, is a special consideration for patients with heart disease, due to the effect of decreased oxygen at higher altitudes.
- Patients should be careful about hypothermia (the body getting too cold) as this can lead to more stress.
- Cold weather activities require extra energy which could lead to extra stress on the heart.
- Coming down with a cold and the flu can be an additive stress on the heart.
So discuss any trip or change in environment with your primary physician to make sure your husband's heart can handle the stress. Most people can take a trip to Tahoe without getting into trouble. Just make sure to keep bundled up and warm, monitor your level of exertion, and be aware of any signs of a cold and flu.