“Health” (AKIpress) – It is important for people with cardiovascular diseases to take special care in the heat: high temperatures increase the load on the heart and can cause dehydration, drops or surges in blood pressure, rhythm disturbances and worsening heart failure. Professor, cardiologist and oncologist reports this Igor Pershukov.
In the new material, Professor Pershukov shared recommendations for patients with cardiovascular diseases, told how to safely endure hot weather, what symptoms require special attention and in which cases it is necessary to immediately seek medical help.
Here is the text:
“The main rule is not to change the dosage of medications on your own – especially diuretics, blood pressure medications, antiarrhythmics, anticoagulants.
If in the heat your blood pressure changes significantly, weakness, swelling or shortness of breath appear, it is best to contact your doctor to adjust your therapy.
How to behave in hot weather?
1. Avoid overheating
- Don’t go outside during the hottest hours: usually from 11:00 to 17:00. For example, the Gismeteo website shows dangerous hours with high, very high and extreme UV index (Solar UV Radiation Level: 0-2 Low, 3-5 Moderate, 6-7 High, 8-10 Very High, 11+Extreme). At this time, being under the rays of the sun is not useful and dangerous for everyone, even healthy ones.
- Stay in the shade, in a cool room, use a fan or air conditioner.
- If the air conditioner is on, avoid sudden changes in temperature: do not set the temperature too low.
- Wear light, loose, light-colored clothing made from natural fabrics.
- Be sure to wear a hat.
2. Watch your drinking regime
- Drink water in small portions throughout the day, without waiting for extreme thirst.
- Do not abuse sweet drinks, strong coffee, or energy drinks.
- It is better to avoid alcohol in the heat: it increases the risk of dehydration, arrhythmias and pressure surges.
Important: if you have heart failure (CHF2 or NYHA2 or more), severe edema, or your doctor has limited fluids, the amount of fluid you should drink must be agreed with your doctor. There is no universal amount of water for everyone!
3. Monitor your blood pressure and pulse
- Measure your blood pressure in the morning, afternoon and evening, and also when you feel unwell.
- Record your readings, especially if you have hypertension, arrhythmias, or have recently changed therapy.
- Look for unusually low blood pressure, extreme weakness, dizziness, or fast or irregular pulse.
- If you have arrhythmia constantly or in attacks, then you need to use a device that has an indication that it can be used for arrhythmia “AFib”.
4. Limit physical activity
- Move walks, gardening, and sports to early morning or evening.
- Avoid heavy lifting and prolonged exposure to the sun.
- Take frequent breaks and rest in a cool place.
5. Eat lighter
- Eat small meals;
- Vegetables, fruits, lean fish, fermented milk products, light soups are preferred.
In all countries where there is extreme heat, cold soups are invented for this time – Gazpacho in Spain, okroshka in the USSR, etc.
- Do not overuse salty, smoked and fatty foods: this can contribute to fluid retention and increased blood pressure.
6. Be careful with medications. Some of them may affect heat tolerance:
- diuretics – increase the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance;
- blood pressure medications – in hot weather they sometimes lower blood pressure more;
- beta blockers – may reduce the body’s ability to tolerate overheating;
- anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, rivaroxaban, warfarin) – require a stable regimen and monitoring as prescribed by a doctor;
- If you just recently started taking amiodarone/cordarone, then remember that in the sun it makes the skin bright red, like a ripe tomato. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is better to cover your entire body from direct sunlight (hat, long-sleeved shirt or blouse, pants rather than shorts).
Never stop taking medications yourself! If your condition worsens, consult a doctor!
7. Store your medications correctly
- Do not leave medications in the car, in the sun, or on the windowsill.
- Store them as directed, usually in a cool, dry place.
- Nitroglycerin and some other drugs are especially sensitive to storage conditions.
- If you divide the drug into parts (which your doctor allows), then remember that you need to store the remaining half or some part of the tablet in a dark, dry, cool place. Usually the shelf life of the remaining part of the tablet is calculated in hours, not days. If the remaining part of the tablet has been left for more than 24 hours, its effect will be extremely weak, or there may be no effect; extremely rarely there may be other/unexpected effects from taking it.
When do you need to urgently seek medical help?
Call an ambulance if:
- pain, burning, compression in the chest;
- severe shortness of breath, suffocation;
- loss of consciousness or faintness;
- severe weakness, confusion;
- sudden severe headache, speech impairment, facial asymmetry, weakness in an arm or leg;
- frequent, irregular pulse with deterioration of health;
- the pressure is very high and does not decrease or, conversely, very low with severe weakness;
- signs of heat stroke: high body temperature, hot, dry skin or profuse sweat, nausea, vomiting, confusion.
Signs that the heat is already having a bad effect on the body – Pay attention to:
- dizziness;
- darkening of the eyes;
- nausea;
- extreme thirst;
- severe weakness;
- rapid heartbeat;
- convulsions;
- decreased amount of urine;
- increased swelling or weight gain in a short period of time.
With such symptoms, you need to go to a cool place, sit or lie down, drink water in small sips, measure your blood pressure and pulse. If the condition does not improve, seek medical help.
A short reminder
In the heat and with cardiovascular diseases, it is important:
• coolness,
• shadow,
• water – as agreed with the doctor,
• pressure control,
• minimum loads,
• no alcohol,
• medicines – without unauthorized permission.”
