Cold weather poses a greater risk to heart health than heat
寒冷天氣對心臟健康造成的風險高於炎熱天氣
While heat waves frequently dominate headlines, cold weather poses a much greater, consistent threat to cardiovascular health.
儘管熱浪經常佔據新聞頭條，但寒冷天氣對心血管健康的威脅其實更大且更為持續。
The body experiences a "fight-or-flight" stress response when exposed to the cold.
人體在接觸寒冷時會產生「戰或逃」(ㄓㄢˋㄏㄨㄛˋㄊㄠˊ)的壓力反應。
To preserve core heat, vessels undergo vasoconstriction, which raises blood pressure and forces the heart to work harder.
為了保存核心體溫，血管會發生收縮，這會升高血壓並迫使心臟更費力地工作。
Additionally, cold can thicken blood, increasing the risk of clots that lead to heart attacks or strokes.
此外，寒冷會使血液變稠，增加導致心臟病發作或中風的血栓風險。
Vulnerable individuals, particularly those with pre-existing conditions like hypertension, face higher risks, especially during strenuous activities like shoveling snow.
體質較脆弱的個人，特別是患有高血壓等既有疾病者，面臨的風險更高，尤其是在進行鏟雪等劇烈活動時。
Winter behavioral factors, such as reduced exercise or increased respiratory infections, further exacerbate these dangers.
冬季的行為因素，例如運動量減少或呼吸道感染增加，進一步加劇了這些危險。
