The Relationship between Cold Exposure and Hypertension

Abstract

The Relationship between Cold Exposure and Hypertension: Joon-Youn KIM, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical College, Dong-A University, Korea-This study was performed to determine whether there was any relationship between cold exposure and hypertension, and to evaluate risk factors affecting hypertension in cold-exposed workers. In 11 refrigeration industries, 68 male workers working in cold areas more than once per day were selected as the cold-exposed group, and 68 workers not exposed to cold were selected as the control group. The questionnaire survey, clinical and laboratory tests were performed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in the cold-exposed group, and body core temperature was significantly lower in the cold-exposed group (p<0.05). In logistic regression analysis, age, cold exposure severity and milk intake were significant variables affecting hypertension in coldexposed workers, whose odd ratios were 5.204 (95% CI 1.440-18.812), 2.674 (95% CI 1.080-6.618), and 0.364 (95% CI 0.141-0.942), respectively. Cold exposure was a risk factor for hypertension, and risk factors affecting hypertension in cold exposed workers were age, cold exposure severity, and milk intake. Therefore, cold exposed workers should minimize cold exposure time as much as possible, and ingest foods containing calcium such as milk. In particular, old workers working in cold areas should check their blood pressure and electrocardiogram periodically. (J Occup Health 2003; 45: 300-306)

Heart Rate Variability in Occupational Health ―A Systematic Review

“…One of the health hazards of cold exposure is hypertension 79) . Blood pressure is higher in winter than in summer because of the increase in peripheral resistance at lower environmental temperatures 80) , and this may be one of the mechanisms underlying the higher mortality from CVD in winter.…”

“…Blood pressure is higher in winter than in summer because of the increase in peripheral resistance at lower environmental temperatures 80) , and this may be one of the mechanisms underlying the higher mortality from CVD in winter. Long-term occupational exposure to cold environment increases blood pressure in male workers working in cold areas more than once per day 79) . Bortkiewicz et al 34) also found higher blood pressure in workers with exposure to ambient temperatures varying from 0 to 10˚C for 8 h/d than in workers with exposure to ambient temperatures between 10˚C and 14˚C for 8 h/d.…”

Blood pressure responses to whole-body cold exposure: effect of metoprolol

“…3 Cold winter weather is associated with more severe hypertension, stroke and myocardial infarction in hypertensive patients. 2,4 Seasonal variation of blood pressure (BP), with the highest values during the cold season, has been well documented.…”

AAV delivery of mineralocorticoid receptor shRNA prevents progression of cold-induced hypertension and attenuates renal damage

“…[15][16][17][18] Cold temperatures make hypertension more severe in hypertensive patients. 10,14,15,[19][20][21] Chronic cold exposure induces hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in rats within 1-3 weeks, 22,27,31,32 namely CIH. Cold-induced hypertension is a natural form of experimentally induced hypertension that does not require surgery, administration of large doses of hormones or drugs, or genetic manipulation.…”