Vietnam hospitals report rise in stroke, heart cases as colder weather sets in

At Thu Duc Regional General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, doctors treated four acute heart attack patients within 24 hours last week, all requiring emergency coronary intervention.

Hospitals in the southern city, including Thong Nhat Hospital, have also recorded more stroke cases, many involving patients with a history of hypertension and diabetes.

In Hanoi, Bach Mai Hospital and 108 Military Central Hospital have reported a similar increase in patients with cardiovascular disease and stroke in recent weeks.

Mai Duy Ton, director of the Stroke Center at Bach Mai Hospital, said the facility has been admitting about 50-55 stroke patients a day.

He said stroke risk rises when temperatures drop sharply or fluctuate suddenly.

Cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict and blood pressure to rise, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, particularly among older people and those with underlying cardiovascular conditions.

Ngo Tuan Anh, head of cardiovascular surgery at 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi, said blood pressure during colder months is typically around 5 mmHg higher than in summer, a sustained increase that can significantly raise the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Doctors also warned that year-end factors such as stress, lack of sleep, increased alcohol consumption, reduced physical activity, and interruptions in medication further heighten risks.

Many patients with hypertension, diabetes or lipid disorders stop or forget to take medication during busy year-end periods, leaving their conditions poorly controlled when weather-related risks are highest.

Health officials urged people, especially those with chronic heart conditions, to keep warm, avoid sudden exposure to cold and continue taking prescribed medication during seasonal changes.