Blake Medical Center

Protect Your Heart from the Heat

When Mother Nature turns on the heat and the temperatures sizzle, be kind to your heart. It is working extra hard to keep your body cool. Fun in the sun sounds like a great way to spend the day, but when it’s hot outside, your blood circulation increases as your blood vessels dilate putting extra pressure on your heart. Young children, people who are overweight, and those with heart disease are particularly prone to the effects of heat on the heart. They are then at an increased risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke should not be taken lightly, as it can be fatal. Know the signs of heat stroke and call 911 if you notice any of the following symptoms:

· Hot skin without sweat

· A racing pulse

· A high body temperature (103° F or higher)

· Severe headache

· Dizziness or fainting

· Nausea

· Disorientation

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To avoid heat stroke and give your heart a break, keep your cool using the following tips:

· Try to drink 2 to 4 glasses of water an hour.

· Occasionally have a sports drink to replenish the salts and minerals lost to sweat.

· Don’t drink alcohol or consume a lot of sugar and caffeine as these have a dehydrating effect on the body.

· Wear cool, comfortable clothes.

· Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to prevent sunburn. Sunburn interferes with the body’s ability to keep itself cool.

· Stay indoors or in the shade during the hottest part of the day.

· Eat meals that are light and require little to no cooking, since warm, heavy meals make the body hotter.

· Take a dip in a pool or rinse off with a cold shower.

If you or someone you love is showing signs of heat-related illness, do not hesitate to get immediate medical attention. The emergency team at Blake Medical Center offers fast, efficient treatment, and our ER wait times consistently beat the national average.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Heart Association

Related Posts:

Playing Safe with Summer Sports

Stay Safe in the Sun

Tags: Blake Medical Center, cardiology, heart health, heat, hospitals Bradenton, summer