Cold weather raises blood pressure in elderly

Paris, France, January 13: Elderly people might suffer from elevated blood pressure during cold weather, thus putting them at a greater risk of stroke, heart attack or kidney failure, reveals a report from French researchers.

There is a significant rise in the rates of hypertension in the cooler months, says a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Scientists have found a correlation between falling outdoor temperatures and rise in blood pressure among the elderly.

“Elderly persons may be particularly susceptible to temperature-related variations in blood pressure,” researcher Annick Alperovitch, MD, of the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, in Paris, and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

“The baroreflex, which is one of the mechanisms of blood pressure regulation, is modified in elderly subjects, and it has been hypothesized that disorders of baroreflex control and enhanced vasoreactivity (sensitivity of blood vessels) could contribute to the aging-associated increase in cardiovascular morbidity (illness).”

Even though previous research had suggested blood pressure change with seasonal variations, yet only a handful of studies looked at its effects on the elderly, Annick Alperovitch of the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Paris and colleagues affirmed.

Hypertension or high blood pressure, which affects nearly one billion adults worldwide, and if not controlled, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.

According to recent estimates, nearly one-third U.S. adults suffer from the “silent killer” called high blood pressure. However, due to no visible symptoms, many people, simply, are unaware of this fatal disease.

Researchers studied seasonal variations in blood pressure among 8,801 French adults aged 65 and above. Based on a two year study, it was found that both systolic and diastolic blood pressures in elderly varied significantly with a change in seasons. The rate of blood pressure readings demonstrated a rise of 5 points in winter at 33.4 percent as compared to 23.8 percent in summer.

Additionally, it was found that those aged 80 and above were more vulnerable to temperature-related blood pressures variations. “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 revealed.

The results of the study are likely to unveil the reasons behind seasonal variations in illness and death due to blood vessel rupture, aneurysm, or stroke. “Because the risk of stroke or aneurysmal rupture is highest in the elderly, improved protection against these diseases by close monitoring of blood pressure and antihypertensive medication when outdoor temperature is very low could be considered,” the authors said.