See Dr. Winter Live
HealthSource® airs on WFAA-TV Channel 8 every weekday at noon and 5 p.m., and throughout Texas on Texas Cable News Network. You can see Dr. Winter live on WFAA-TV Channel 8 on Mondays and Wednesdays at noon.
If you have any questions about the show or would like further information, please call 1-800-4BAYLOR or email us.
Your TV HealthSource®
High Blood Pressure Can Vary By Season
Week of February 11 - Is the cold weather starting to get you down? It may be having the opposite effect on your blood pressure. The results of a new study could have serious meaning to the one-in-four Americans with hypertension. Dr. David Winter tells us more in tonight’s HealthSource report.
DR. WINTER
For the millions of Americans with high blood pressure, warmer weather may mean better health. Researchers recently looked at just how the seasons may affect hypertension.
DR. JANE SADLER
Family Practice
Family Medical Center at North Garland
“During the summer they found that people on average had lower blood pressures compared to their blood pressures in the winter.”
DR. WINTER
The average variation was slight… but experts say enough to make a difference.
DR. JANE SADLER
“If you’re running borderline blood pressures of 140 over 90, 130 over 80 and you’re having variations of five to six millimeters of blood pressure elevation over the winter—that may have a significant impact on your risk for heart disease and stroke.”
DR. WINTER
Why might your blood pressure rise when it’s cold out? For the same reason patients’ weight often does.
TERRA KINARD
High Blood Pressure Patient
“I’m definitely not as active outdoors, it’s cold… I don’t want to be outside.”
DR. WINTER
Experts say the study’s findings are especially important for those hypertension patients on medication.
DR. JANE SADLER
“They need to be seeing their physician in a clinic visit every six months… to recheck their blood pressure seeing if there’s any significant variations and then alterations of their blood pressure medication needs to take place.”
DR. WINTER
For Baylor Health Care System, I’m Dr. David Winter.
ANCHOR TAG
It’s been known for some time that blood pressure can vary depending on the time of day it’s taken. But experts say this is the first study that shows it may also vary depending on the time of year.