The smoke and smog in the winter months too is unhealthy for the heart.

People over 65 years of age, diabetics, patients with past history of cardiac illnesses can take influenza vaccine under medical supervision.

How to prevent a heart attack this winter

• Exercise

If you are not a regular, or want to change the hours of exercise, start slow. The heart can adapt to slow and progressive changes. It has much more difficulty in adapting to sudden changes.

Keep yourself warm when starting exercise. Patients with angina should avoid going for exercise on a very cold windy mornings. Wait for the temperature to come up.

• Heart healthy diet

Watch what you eat and drink. People eat more, drink more and gain more weight in winter. Watch your weight. Remember to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Blood pressure

It is a good practice to check your blood pressure in regularly in winters when it tends to be higher. The need of medication in high BP patients often needs a revision in these months.

• Remember the “Rule of 100”

a. Maintain a systolic blood pressure around 100 mms (at least less than 130 mms).

b. Keep your fasting blood sugar less than 100 mgs

c. Keep your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) around 100 mgs/dl.

d. Keep your triglycerides around 100 mgs/dl (at least less than 150 mgs).Let this winter be a healthy one for all.

The author is Executive Director, Cardiology,Fortis Hospitals & Director, Cardiology, Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi