At first, the heat and humidity of summer can feel like a welcome reprieve from the freezing conditions of winter. As the temperature rises, though, new concerns come into play. The hotter it gets outside, the more we need to focus on hydration and sun protection. We also need to take precautions with exercise and overall heat safety. Good habits are especially important for those with a cardiovascular condition.
It doesn’t matter how much you love the warming sensation of the sun on your skin; your heart may have other ideas. The problem with heat is that the heart has to work harder to cool the body off in a hot environment. For example, if you’re working in the garden on an exceptionally warm day when the air around you is hotter than your average body temperature, your heart may circulate several times more blood than it would on a cool day.
The extra stress to beat faster and harder may be inconsequential for the healthy individual. In the presence of a heart condition, though, the increase in cardiovascular output can be dangerous.
Understanding that heart conditions and even medications to treat them may increase heat responsiveness is valuable because it allows you to think ahead to create protective strategies as the weather changes. Some tips for summertime heart health include:
If you have questions about heart health or a particular symptom, contact Premier Cardiology Consultants at 516-437-5600.
Posted in: Health and Wellness, Heart Health
