Staying cool is necessary in the summertime warmth, and so is taking care of your coronary heart well being when you have got coronary heart illness. Warmth and humidity can each negatively have an effect on your coronary heart.
“Warmth causes the physique to work more durable to chill itself, rising the guts fee and blood stream, which may pressure the general cardiovascular system,” says Rosy Thachil, MD, a Fellow of the American Faculty of Cardiology and director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Elmhurst Hospital Heart in Elmhurst, New York.
Excessive temperatures can stress your physique, rising your danger of dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and blood clots. “Dehydration and warmth stress can worsen signs in folks with preexisting coronary heart illness, elevating the chance of issues like arrhythmias or coronary heart assaults,” says Dr. Thachil. However there are lots of steps you’ll be able to take to remain secure this summer time and handle your situation.
1. Keep Effectively-Hydrated
Consuming water is particularly necessary when exercising or doing any actions outdoors within the warmth. “Satisfactory hydration helps scale back the quantity of pressure on the guts by serving to it pump blood extra effectively and serving to the physique’s muscle tissues operate extra effectively,” says Emily Cendrowski, MD, a heart specialist on the BJC Medical Group in St. Louis.
Whereas some well being consultants sometimes suggest that girls drink about 11.5 cups of water and males drink 15.5 cups every single day, you’ll need to drink extra if you happen to’re spending a lot of time outdoors otherwise you are likely to sweat so much. Attempt to drink fluids persistently all through the day, too, corresponding to earlier than, throughout, and after actions. In case you’re thirsty, chances are you’ll already be dehydrated.
Relating to fluids, “water is finest to stop dehydration and warmth stress,” says Thachil. Keep away from ingesting soda or sugary drinks, as these don’t have hydrating advantages. The truth is, “caffeinated, sugary, and alcoholic drinks can worsen dehydration,” says Dr. Cendrowski.
Along with ingesting water, consuming uncooked fruit and veggies might help you keep hydrated all through the day. They’ve excessive water content material and electrolytes, that are minerals that may assist preserve fluid stability in your physique. Examples of hydrating fruit and veggies embrace:
2. Keep away from Exercising Throughout the Hottest Instances of Day
Train, on the whole, will be helpful for folks with coronary heart illness. However exercising in the course of the hottest time of day or throughout extreme warmth comes with dangers and must be prevented. “Folks with coronary heart illness ought to keep away from strenuous actions in the course of the hottest elements of the day, sometimes between midday and three p.m., to reduce issues associated to dehydration and overexposure to warmth,” says Cendrowski.
As a substitute, attempt “gentle to average actions throughout cooler elements of the day, just like the early morning or night,” says Thachil. These actions might embrace brisk strolling, gardening, or leisurely biking.
Intention to keep away from direct daylight, all the time preserve a water bottle readily available, and take relaxation breaks within the shade, provides Thachil.
You should definitely talk about your train plan along with your healthcare supplier. They will talk about any potential security issues and advise you on what’s finest for you and managing your coronary heart illness.
3. Know the Indicators and Signs of Warmth Exhaustion and Warmth Stroke
When the temperature rises, so can your danger of warmth exhaustion and warmth stroke. Each circumstances are critical, however they are often prevented.
Warmth exhaustion occurs when your physique overheats. Signs embrace:
Heavy sweating
Having cool pores and skin and goosebumps regardless of sweating
Feeling faint and fatigued
Having a headache
Experiencing muscle cramps
If not handled shortly, warmth exhaustion can result in warmth stroke, which is life-threatening and a medical emergency. Warmth stroke is when your physique is unable to manage your temperature, says Cendrowski. Signs of warmth stroke embrace:
Confusion or delirium
Dizziness
Feeling fatigued
Seizures
Quick coronary heart fee
Fast, shallow respiration
Nausea and vomiting
Having a physique temperature of 103 levels or extra
Typically, “look ahead to chest ache, extreme sweating, dizziness, fast heartbeat, weak point, or confusion,” says Thachil. “These might counsel warmth exhaustion or warmth stroke requiring speedy medical consideration.”
“Pores and skin modifications that point out overexposure to warmth embrace sunburn and warmth rash,” says Cendrowski. Sunburn can result in dehydration,whereas warmth rash can contribute to warmth exhaustion.
To stop a sunburn, put on sunscreen and hats whereas outdoors, and attempt to keep in shady areas, says Laura Sutaria, MD, MPH, a heart specialist at Montefiore Well being System in Bronx, New York. “Sunburns can truly make it more durable to your physique to chill off successfully.”
Carrying light-weight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothes can help in sunburn prevention, in addition to assist regulate your physique temperature and shield in opposition to warmth rash.
You may as well attempt to restrict your time outside and go for cooler, indoor environments to stop warmth rash.
5. Keep away from the Outdoor When Air High quality Is Dangerous
“For folks with coronary heart illness, it is very important monitor climate forecasts for warmth advisories and to remain indoors on these days,” says Cendrowski. When the climate heats up, the air high quality can worsen. Positive particulates, corresponding to smoke, mud, and filth, can construct up and make it troublesome to breathe.
Air air pollution will be particularly dangerous for folks with coronary heart illness, rising the chance of coronary heart assaults, stroke, and arrhythmias. “Poor air high quality can exacerbate coronary heart signs by rising irritation and lowering oxygen consumption,” says Thachil. “Checking forecasts can let you plan actions when air air pollution and temperature ranges are safer.”
Most climate apps and web sites will listing the day’s air high quality rating, with a better rating indicating worse air high quality. For instance, an air high quality rating above 100 is taken into account unhealthy for delicate teams.
6. Cool Down Your Dwelling and Keep Indoor Air High quality
All through the hotter months, goal to “preserve indoor temperatures cool, ideally between 70 and 75 levels F (21 and 24 levels C), utilizing followers or air con,” says Thachil. “Keep away from sudden temperature modifications and guarantee correct air flow to cut back warmth stress.”
On actually scorching days, corresponding to when it’s over 90 levels F, be additional cautious when utilizing followers alone to chill down, as they will trigger your physique temperature to rise. In case you don’t have air-conditioning at residence, search for cooling facilities in your space. Or head to your native library or a shopping mall, as these services are more likely to have air-conditioning.
When avoiding the warmth outside and staying inside, it’s necessary to think about indoor air high quality, too. Indoor air air pollution, corresponding to cigarette smoke and air fresheners, could make it troublesome to breathe and should worsen coronary heart illness signs. Attempt to take away these sources as a lot as doable. Air out your property by opening home windows when the skin air high quality rating is low and temperatures drop, corresponding to within the mornings or evenings. Air purifiers may take away particulates from the air and enhance air high quality indoors.
Sure drugs can have an effect on the way you reply to warmth. “Sufferers with heart problems are sometimes on drugs, corresponding to diuretics, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers, that may make it much more troublesome for the physique to compensate for temperature extremes,” says Dr. Sutaria.
In case you’re taking any of those drugs and are having issue navigating the warmth, Cendrowski advises speaking along with your physician “to see whether it is acceptable to carry sure drugs that enhance danger of dehydration and poor response to the warmth.”
Your physician is aware of your medical historical past and might talk about with you potential dangers and advantages of quickly stopping these drugs. They are able to supply different drugs or remedies to assist, too.
The Takeaway
Excessive temperatures in the summertime months may cause your coronary heart to work more durable to chill down your physique. The warmth can enhance your coronary heart fee and danger of dehydration and critical issues like warmth stroke.
Staying hydrated, avoiding train in the course of the hottest elements of the day, defending your pores and skin, and checking air high quality scores earlier than heading outdoors might help you safely handle your situation.
Know the indicators and signs of warmth exhaustion and warmth stroke, and act shortly if you happen to or another person begins to expertise them. Warmth exhaustion can result in warmth stroke, which will be life-threatening.
