Tricuspid valve regurgitation: Shortness of breath and the cold

Yes. I’m not sure why, but both cold and heat are horrible for people with heart problems. That’s been my experience, and I’ve read it as well. I walk daily. If it’s too hot or cold out, I walk in the house (I have a route through it).

Hi @ddwish Great question! It sounds like you are not alone with @susanejw experiencing weather related problems as well.

I found a resource online you may find helpful to both explain why you may experience adverse symptoms in cold weather and also how to address it. “Cold temperatures can cause blood vessels and arteries to constrict, making the heart work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.”

How cold weather affects the heart
-CardiomyopathyUK How to manage in cold weather
https://www.cardiomyopathy.org/cold-weather
Is this getting out of breath in the cold weather a new symptom for you? Do you notice problems when it is hot outside?

I have this some times too. I never thought it was my heart though.

@jlharsh It’s possible it is more noticeable to me because my valve was torn during pacemaker lead extraction last year; ie the condition occurred overnight not slowly like most others on this thread. So changes in my body are more pronounced. Last summer it was new for me and so I don’t recall heat impacts.
Thanks for your description on what is happening in the cold and the link from UK!!

@hattiebhardiman See the reply from @jharsh it is very helpful!