Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- If you think that escaping the cold for a warm climate protects you from heart attack, a new study says you’d better save the air fare.
Heading south for the winter may preserve you from snow and sleet, but it won’t necessarily keep you from having a heart attack.
That’s according to a study presented to the American Heart Association.
Researchers looked at death certificates from seven regions across the country where the winter months ranged from warm to cold.
Deaths in the winter were 26 to 36 percent higher than in summer, including those for cardiovascular deaths.
But the cold climates had no more deaths that the warm ones. The study concludes that something other than low temperatures is behind the difference.
It might have to do with getting less vitamin D on winter’s shorter days, or less physical activity.
But no matter what climate you’re in, you’re more likely to die from heart problems in the winter.
