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Severe Heat Wave: Know How It Leads To Increase In Heart Attacks, Prevention Tips
Very high heat can lower blood pressure, causing a person's heart to beat faster and putting them at risk for a heart attack. According to studies, high temperatures are not conducive for heart patients to venture out and can be fatal. Read on to know how heat causes a spike in heart troubles and ways to keep yourself safe.
Updated Jun 13, 2023 | 04:15 PM IST
High temperature can be detrimental for those who have a heightened risk of heart-related issues
New Delhi: Summer is the time to have fun, go outdoors, play sports, exercise, loose weight, and even socialize. However, hot, high temperatures are also the time that you need to take care of your health. Apart from many other ailments that you may be scared of, you need to be extremely careful of a heart attack or stroke.
According to health experts1, it is important to take note of hot weather and heat wave alerts issued by the weather department, as this time of the year can be detrimental for those who have a heightened risk of heart-related issues, like high cholesterol, etc.
How does heat wave and hot weather affect the heart?
According to Harvard Health, exposure to high heat increases the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, along with stressing the cardiovascular system and making the heart work harder. This increases the chance of heart attacks, heart arrhythmias, and heart failure.
Studies say that the interaction of high heat and cardiovascular diseases contributes to about a quarter of heat-related deaths. A recent study published in the journal Circulation2 studied heart-related deaths in the middle eastern region of Kuwait, where daytime temperatures are higher than anywhere else in summer. The researchers found a link between rising temperatures and the risk of cardiovascular deaths, with most occurring between temperatures of 95° F to 109° F.
How to protect your heart when the temperature shoots up?
Here are a few ways to lower your heart risk and stay safe this summer:
Always monitor weather forecasts
Whenever there are heat advisories for extreme temperatures issued, take them seriously. If you have an underlying heart issue, make sure to stay at home during peak times. If there is a need to venture out, evening and early morning are often the coolest times.
Keep yourself hydrated
During hotter months, make sure to keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water. According to health experts, dehydration is a major cause of heart-related ailments, and they might get aggravated by the lack of water in your body which gets depleted very fast in summer.
Avoid alcohol
Excessive alcohol intake, especially in summer may raise the risk for heat stroke during scorching weather.
Protect your skin
Sunburn, according to doctors, affects your body's ability to cool down and increases dehydration. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to protect yourself from harmful ultraviolet sun rays.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
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