Extreme or freezing cold can not only be uncomfortable but it can also lead to severe health complications like heart attack, strokes etc in us. It is true that our body has to work extra hard to cope with the cold climate. Extreme cold can lead to shrinking of the blood vessels also. As a result, we could get high blood pressure etc. Those who have respiratory issues like COPD or asthma etc, cold could increase the respiratory symptoms also. Therefore, we must be careful and avoid extreme colds as much as possible.
Various ways by which freezing cold can affect us are
Heart attack:
It must be noted that cold triggers vasoconstriction and it would result in increased BP and heart rates etc. The cardiovascular system would get strained by this leading to more heart attacks etc. There are possibilities that extreme cold could thicken blood leading to more blood clot formation.
Strokes and neurological issues etc:
When our body loses heat faster than it produces leading to very low body temperatures, then we could get hypothermia. Truth is that hypothermia would lead to neurological issues in us. We could get shivering when we get exposed to the cold continuously for a long time. This would escalate stress on the heart.
Asthma and COPD etc:
As cold air constricts airways, we could get respiratory problems in us. Those who have pre-existing conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD etc.
Frostbites:
Very low temperatures can lead to frostbites in us. It is a serious medical condition where a severe cold could damage the body tissues. Nose, toes and fingers would get affected usually. We could get gangrene also.
Psychological stress:
The stress hormones would be released due to the psychological stress from extreme cold. The autonomous nervous system would get affected.