Hot facts on heart health for summer months
“Hot summers can induce heart attacks and strokes in individuals who are at risk of heart disease and it’s important to keep our heart safe when the temperatures rise,” says Diamond Fernandes, of Heartfit.ca.
The heart has to work a lot harder to cool itself off in hot weather, says Fernandes, a heart health expert from Calgary. “While exercise is the best medicine, it is important to take some important steps to avoid hot weather heart attacks. Start off slowly and don’t just jump into big hikes, long bike rides or walks.”
Be sure your fitness is up to par for the activity you wish to engage in, says Fernandes. Work slowly and get your fitness level up over the warm days.
Most hearts can go through the hot summers without skipping a beat, says Fernandes, but “if you have heart disease - heart failure or blockages - or are over 45, it becomes important to take proper precautions…”
Take extra care if you are overweight, especially if you have increased waist size, or have diabetes or high blood pressure. “Individuals taking heart or blood pressure medications can increase the body’s response in the heat and interfere with our heat regulation. They may deplete essential electrolytes leading to quicker dehydration, heat stress and blood pressure changes,” adds Fernandes, a clinical physiologist...
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“Hot summers can induce heart attacks and strokes in individuals who are at risk of heart disease and it’s important to keep our heart safe when the temperatures rise,” says Diamond Fernandes, of Heartfit.ca.
The heart has to work a lot harder to cool itself off in hot weather, says Fernandes, a heart health expert from Calgary. “While exercise is the best medicine, it is important to take some important steps to avoid hot weather heart attacks. Start off slowly and don’t just jump into big hikes, long bike rides or walks.”
Be sure your fitness is up to par for the activity you wish to engage in, says Fernandes. Work slowly and get your fitness level up over the warm days.
Most hearts can go through the hot summers without skipping a beat, says Fernandes, but “if you have heart disease - heart failure or blockages - or are over 45, it becomes important to take proper precautions…”
Take extra care if you are overweight, especially if you have increased waist size, or have diabetes or high blood pressure. “Individuals taking heart or blood pressure medications can increase the body’s response in the heat and interfere with our heat regulation. They may deplete essential electrolytes leading to quicker dehydration, heat stress and blood pressure changes,” adds Fernandes, a clinical physiologist...
(Read More)
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