Colder temperatures may affect older peoples blood pressure, which should be closely monitored during the winter months, a new study suggests.
French researchers looked at the differences in blood pressure among people aged 65 or older during different seasons, finding that both systolic and diastolic blood pressure changed according to temperature fluctuations.
For example, around one-third of participants had high blood pressure in the winter, compared with one-quarter in the summer.
Additionally, each individuals blood pressure was found to be at least somewhat lower in the warmer months than it had been in the winter, the scientists said.
This effect could have an impact on seniors heart health, as high blood pressure is linked to serious illness such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure.
“Although our study does not demonstrate a causal link between blood pressure and external temperature, the observed relationship nevertheless has potentially important consequences for blood pressure management in the elderly,” the authors wrote.
Some people have used oral chelation as a way to support health artery function and control blood pressure.