Protect your heart as the temperatures soar

Temperatures soaring well above the 40 degrees mark could give rise to more heart related challenges in the absence of proper care and attention. The human body maintains its internal temperature at around 37°C but as the environment warms-up, the body tends to warm-up as well. Heat-related challenges range from irritating problems such as heat rash to exhaustion and heat strokes.

Dr. Ahmad Fakhri Alhimairi, Non-Invasive Cardiologist, Canadian Specialist Hospital, “People who do not consume enough water may face dehydration, hypotension, fast heart rate due to hyperdynamic circulation, angina due to workload on the heart, worsened heart failure status as they may need admissions to hospital for stabilization. In advanced cases, they may get cardiac arrhythmia due to the heart exhaustion, hyperdynamic circulation and electrolytes disturbance.”

Hot, humid weather can be especially hard for people with damaged or weakened hearts, or older people whose bodies don’t respond as readily to stress as they once did. The extra work for the heart, compounded by the loss of sodium and potassium and the internal flood of stress hormones, can push some people into trouble. The combination of increased blood flow to the skin and dehydration may drop blood pressure enough to cause dizziness or falls.

“It can be hard to tell where heat exhaustion ends and heat stroke begins. Both can be mistaken for summer ‘flu’ at first. Most people are aware of the importance of drinking fluids during the summer but very few solemnly follow it. In order to maintain the body temperature, the body produces sweat, which means that you lose more fluid than usual from your body. This can drop your blood pressure and make your heart beat faster. Staying hydrated helps your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature. Be on the lookout for nausea or vomiting, fatigue, headache, disorientation or confusion and muscle twitches,” added Dr.Fakhri.

“People with heart problems, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus & patients using urine tablets poorly tolerate hot weather. Urine tablet has to be avoided or reduced in hot weather as it causes sodium depletion & dehydration. To protect yourself from hot weather, drink plenty of water and fluids, use sun screen, wear loose clothes, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, avoid heavy work in hot weather, take extra precautions if you are in high risk groups and consult your doctor,” according to Dr. Ahmad Fahkri.

Some wise choices can help you beat the weather and keep heat from overstressing your heart and spoiling your summer. Put off exercise or other physical activity until things cool down, stay hydrated, avoid the heat as much as possible and act quickly if you notice symptoms of overheating.