ATLANTA (WAOK) - People are more likely to die from a heart attack in the winter whether they live in a warmer or colder climate.

Researchers at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles compared more than one-point-five-million death certificates from states with warmer climates to places with cold winter months.

The numbers show that people are 26 to 36-percent more likely to die from heart-related issues during the winter months, no matter what kind of climate they live in.

The study suggests health factors like diet and less exercise contribute to the numbers along with increased cases of flu and depression.