False claims that cold weather is not associated with risk of heart attacks and blood clots are adding to health misinformation circulating on social media.
A Facebook user shared a screenshot of a Dec. 2 article from News Punch with the headline, "Researchers Warn That Cold Weather Can Cause Blood Clots & Heart Attacks."
The poster expressed doubt about that connection.
"So now the clots and heart issues are being blamed on cold weather and stress," reads the caption of the post shared Dec. 4. "This is not a thing and never has been before. This is thinly veiled fake news."
The post generated more than 400 likes in less than a week. Several variations of this claim popped up elsewhere as well, including a Dec. 8 post claiming cold was not connected with those conditions that accumulated close to 2,000 likes before it was deleted.
But the claim is false.
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Cold weather and related conditions are indeed associated with heart risks and blood clots, experts told USA TODAY.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment.
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