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Written by Dr. Shin Jeong Won, Tong-In Clinic
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Edited by Sia
Hello! I'm Shin Jeong Won, doctor at Tong-in Korean Medicine Clinic.
Korea's four seasons move fast. It feels like just yesterday we were escaping the scorching heat and finally enjoying cooler weather—but suddenly, the cold wind brings winter. (Korea's autumn really is short!)🍂
When temperatures drop rapidly like this, many people say, “Body feels stiffer," "Cold hands and feet keep me awake," or "Chest feels tight and I feel dizzy."
Among these symptoms, chest pain or tightness especially makes people worry about potential heart problems or vascular disease.
In fact, a sudden cold is a major factor affecting vascular health. 😟
Today, I'll explain how to stay healthy through winter from a vascular disease prevention perspective as we prepare for the cold season.
🩸 When It Gets Cold, Your Blood Vessels Go on Alert?!
When it gets cold, our bodies constrict blood vessels in the skin to prevent heat loss and maintain body temperature.
Research shows that even a 1°C drop in temperature raises systolic blood pressure by an average of 1.3 mmHg; additionally**, strokes and other brain-related vascular problems are most common in December and January**. People with existing hypertension, high cholesterol, or diabetes are susceptible to these changes. They may experience severe cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.
Korean medicine has long described this situation as "cold blocking blood vessels." In Korean medicine, when han-sa (한사, cold energy) or pung-han (풍한, wind + cold energy) penetrates the body, circulation are disrupted, leading to various symptoms and diseases—potentially causing pain, numbness, dizziness, and chest pain.
Full Article: https://www.thepylonsquare.com/blogs/health-beauty/cold-snap-alert-protecting-your-blood-vessels-this-winter
