A few precautions to stay healthy this summer
The summer months are a great time to enjoy the outdoors. But the heat of the season’s sunny days can negatively impact your heart’s health.
“The heart kind of works as the HVAC system of the body,” says Dr. Daniel Green, an interventional cardiologist with Bon Secours Upstate Cardiology. “In a hot environment, blood vessels dilate, the heart rate increases, and the body produces sweat, which causes evaporation. That helps cool the blood, and therefore, cool the body.”
People with weakened heart muscles or heart failure “have a harder time responding to the physiologic change required to cool themselves down,” he adds. “For those who have heart disease, the heat can be particularly dangerous because the heart might not be able to keep up with what the body is demanding.”
Because high temperatures can stress the cardiovascular system and make your heart work harder, there can be an increased chance of having heart attacks, heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and heart failure. Anyone with a heart condition or who is overweight should be aware of these risks, Green says, as should people on blood pressure medications.
Those drugs “sometimes interfere with the body’s ability to increase the heart rate, dilate blood vessels, and boost cardiac output,” he adds. “So, people on certain medications can be more prone to overheating.”
People who are taking blood pressure medicines or other diuretics also “tend to get dehydrated in hot conditions,” Green says. “Anytime you’re in the heat, and you start feeling light-headed or woozy, that can mean you are
losing too much fluid or your heart cannot keep up with the increased temperatures.”
While staying hydrated in the heat is essential, individuals with certain heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure, must exercise caution. Drinking too much water or other liquids can cause them to retain fluid and lead to shortness of breath.
“People with that condition will want to meet with their doctor, talk about the activities you want to participate in, and adjust your fluid intake and the medications you take so you don’t get overhydrated,” Green says.
If you’re planning vacations or specific outdoor activities, it’s best to talk with your doctor beforehand “so you understand what your limits are, what their concerns are, and what your medications do, so that you understand what the effects are of your different pills and how that might affect your body,” Green says.
“The other key thing is introducing heat exposure in tiny bits rather than going 100 percent from air conditioning to a full day in 98-degree heat,” he adds.
The temperature threshold that is too hot for your heart “really depends on the person,” Green says. “Younger people with stronger cardiovascular systems can tolerate the extremes of temperatures much better than, say, older people who don’t have that same sort of physiological reserve.”
Green recommends scheduling outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day, avoiding direct sunlight whenever possible, and taking things more slowly as you age and develop more medical conditions.
But you shouldn’t fear being in the heat, he says. “The best thing you can do for your heart is use it regularly. We want people to be outside and moving. You just must do it with a little sense and ensure you’ve spoken with your doctor before you do anything. That way, you understand what your limitations are.”
Have questions about protecting your heart in the heat? You can find a cardiologist by visiting bonsecours.com/locations/specialty-locations/heart-care-cardiology/upstate-cardiology-greenville.
