cold weather affecting recent heart attack

[kriscooley]

my significant other just had a heart attack which involved splinting and a balloon being inserted in two arteries...one of which was almost completely blocked.  Can the severe cold and windly weather affect his going out of doors.  It has only been 2 weeks since he was in the hospital.  He is taking his medicine and eating properly, but he has always been an outdoor person.

[Flycaster305]

I've had three heart attacks, two during winter, and kenkeith gives good advice.  After a heart attack, it takes time for the medications, diet, exercise,etc to revitalize the tissues around the area of the heart involved.  Cold, windy weather can stress the heart.  I suggest that he exercise indoors, no snow shovelling, that sort of thing.  One of the big problems after experiencing a heart attack is that there are limitations, at least it was for me.

[kenkeith]

The opening of the coronary arteries will not have any direct effect from cold weather, but if there were a heart attack as you state, then there could be damaged heart cells causing the heart to not pump blood/oxygen effectively.  Cold weather can/will stress the heart to work harder and weak heart contractions may not be able to meet the increased demand for oxygenated blood.  That would be the risk, and of course dressing heavily with layers of clothing can also put more demand on the heart, etc.

If there has been an myocardia infraction (MI), you may want more information regarding the status of your husband's heart condition.  Sometimes, when there has been a heart attack, quick therapy can save heart cells from permanent damage.  

I had/have a completely blocked LAD and a heart attack, heart failure and pulmonary edema going on 6 years and medication and time has revitalized damaged heart cells.  Your husband may not have had a serious heart damaging event, but maybe two weeks is not enough time for the system to totally recover...consult your doctor.  Nobody on this forum has the complete medical history, and can not give advice.

[cath911]

This is a more difficult question to answer in your particular case. Anyone who has stable angina due to a restriction in blood flow through the coronary arteries is expected to feel adverse affects from cold weather. However, for someone who has had their arteries treated and blood flow is adequate, this is not to be expected. Did they leave one or more blockages due to difficulty in treating?
If they feel there is no problem with blood flow then I would request a nuclear perfusion scan to see which areas of the heart muscle are restricted.
The effects of extra blood flow through coronary arteries after stenting should be immediate. The heart itself may take a while to adjust back to normal, but there shouldn't be a lack of oxygen anymore causing the discomfort.