Do I need to increase my antihypertensive medication when the weather turns cold?

  Available studies have confirmed that climate has a strong influence on blood pressure. The incidence of hypertension is much higher in colder climates than in hotter ones, and the change of seasons is accompanied by a corresponding change in temperature. The most pronounced changes in temperature occur during the year when spring turns to summer and fall turns to winter. Accordingly, blood pressure also fluctuates with the change in temperature. In summer, when the weather is hot, the body dissipates heat mainly by dilating blood vessels, and the resistance of blood vessels, which is one of the most important components of blood pressure, decreases. On the other hand, the body also sweats a lot during the heat, which reduces blood volume and makes blood pressure drop further. Conversely, when winter arrives, the body needs to keep warm by constricting the blood vessels, which increases the vascular resistance, and blood pressure rises. This is especially evident each time the cold air from the north comes south. Therefore, now that the weather has turned cold, it is recommended that people with hypertension visit the hospital immediately to monitor their blood pressure and adjust their medication in a timely and reasonable manner.