Expert Warns: Don't Neglect Your Heart Health in Summer Heat

Summer heat poses a significant stressor to the cardiovascular system, according to Cardiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Can Yücel Karabay. He explained that the body works harder in high temperatures to maintain its normal temperature, leading to dilated blood vessels and increased blood flow to the skin. This extra effort can be particularly taxing for individuals with heart disease.

“

The body works harder in hot weather to maintain its normal temperature. Blood vessels dilate, blood flow to the skin increases, and the heart expends more effort to meet the body's needs.

Karabay highlighted that while everyone is affected by hot weather, certain groups are at higher risk. These include patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and the elderly. He specifically noted that older individuals living alone may not recognize their fluid loss, emphasizing that adequate hydration is crucial for heart health during the summer.

“

Patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, those being treated for high blood pressure, and the elderly group should be more careful.

"Waiting until you feel thirsty often means you are already dehydrated," Karabay cautioned. He also addressed medication for heart patients, noting that diuretics can exacerbate fluid loss in hot weather. Any adjustments to medication, he stressed, must be made under a doctor's supervision, not self-directed.

“

Waiting until you feel thirsty often means you are already dehydrated.

Simple precautions can prevent serious health issues, Karabay advised. He recommended avoiding prolonged sun exposure between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., scheduling outdoor activities for cooler morning or evening hours, maintaining light nutrition, and ensuring regular sleep. His top five recommendations for heart health in summer include consistent water intake, avoiding midday sun, exercising in cooler parts of the day, not changing medications without a doctor's advice, and refraining from strenuous activities on extremely hot days.

“

Patients should not change their medications on their own. If it is thought that medications need to be reduced or stopped, this must be decided under medical supervision.