Enduring the hot weather of summer can be miserable. Aside from the discomfort of feeling hot and sweaty, high heat and humidity can take a toll on your cardiovascular health.
Summer is still in full swing now, and our team, led by Douglas R. Grogan, MD, FAAFP, NCMP, and Jennifer Hall Difalco, MD, at Bethel Family Medicine in Brockton, Massachusetts, wants you to know how to stay safe in the heat. This is especially true if you have high blood pressure or heart disease — because heat and humidity increase the workload on your heart.
Even if you don’t have an existing heart issue, it’s still important to try and offset some of the heat’s effects on your body. We highlight some practical tips to do just that in this month’s blog.
Every time your internal body temperature goes up one degree, your heart beats 10 more times each minute. While this may not seem like a lot, if you add it to the 60-100 beats per minute your heart is already beating, you experience a 10%-17% increase in your heart’s workload.
In addition, your blood pressure can go up with hot weather and high humidity. In order to keep you cool, your body circulates twice as much blood to lower your body’s temperature. The more your body has to circulate blood to cool you off, the higher your blood pressure gets.
The final danger is dehydration. As your body tries to stay cool, it sheds water through sweat. Not only do you lose precious fluids, but you also lose electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, which your organs need to function.
It’s important to know how to actively protect your heart during these summer months. Anytime the temperatures rise above 80 degrees and the humidity levels go above 70%, we recommend following these strategies:
If at any time you notice signs of heat stroke — chills, nausea, lightheadedness, muscle cramps, excessive sweating, or no sweating — stop whatever you’re doing and prioritize getting out of the heat and drinking some water.
If you have a heart condition, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, or other heart disease, it’s best to stay inside whenever possible on those high-alert days. Stick to places that offer air conditioning, and avoid spending time outside until the sun goes down.
To learn more about how to weather the heat and humidity of summertime and protect your heart, or if you have concerns about your heart health, schedule an appointment with the Bethel Family Medicine team.
