Blood Pressure and Cold

Blood pressure can rise in cold winter temperatures. The risk of angina attacks, which can even trigger a heart attack, also increases. The German Heart Foundation, among others, points this out and especially warns people who already have heart disease against overexerting themselves in the cold.

The reason for this is that blood vessels in the skin and other parts of the body constrict in the cold, reducing their diameter. This can also affect the coronary arteries, which reduces the heart's oxygen supply.

Because the blood vessels narrow, the heart has to pump against increased resistance, which causes blood pressure to rise. This can be particularly dangerous in the morning and early hours before noon, when the body switches from night mode to day mode and blood pressure is often already elevated during these hours.

Extremely cold temperatures put stress on the body, which responds by releasing more stress hormones, and that in turn raises blood pressure and pulse.

People with heart disease or high blood pressure are therefore advised to take their prescribed medication first and only then go outside. They should wear warm clothing to limit cooling as much as possible. A scarf over the mouth helps warm the air you breathe in.

People who struggle with higher blood pressure in winter are also advised to try raising the room temperature a bit. It's a good idea to check your diet in winter. At this time of year people often eat fatty and less healthy foods. Switching to a healthier diet with more fruits and vegetables and less salt can also help ease the blood pressure situation.

Because heated air also dries out the body and can consequently thicken the blood, make sure to drink enough fluids.

Moderate exercise is also recommended. This can be walks, for example. Going through the winter landscape warmly wrapped up, without exertion and maybe even in the sunshine, releases feel-good hormones that are also beneficial for the heart.

If you don't want to leave the house because of the weather, you can also exercise at home-for example, with calisthenics or by cycling on a stationary bike.

If your blood pressure stays high despite all efforts, please talk to your doctor about it.

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This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.

Blood Pressure and Cold

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