April 26, 12.57 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
Heart patients are at a high risk of suffering from life-threatning ailments like heat strokes, dehydration, arrhythmias, angina and heart attacks in the summer months
The summer is finally here and the temperature has risen to an all-time high. Besides causing overall discomfort and general fatigue, the scorching heat can trigger health complications, especially for those with existing heart disease. It is for this reason that it is crucial that awareness is raised about the necessary precautionary measures that each one of us must take for a healthy and enjoyable summer.
The human heart is a fist-sized muscle that pumps blood through one’s arteries to all organs and tissues throughout the body. With a rise in the outside temperature, more than the usual amount of fluid is lost from the body to cool it down. The heart is forced to beat faster in order to reach the blood to the surface of the skin to assist in sweating to cool the body. While most healthy people tolerate these changes without missing a beat, those with damaged or weakened hearts may develop complications like heat strokes, dehydration, arrhythmias, angina and heart attacks; sometimes even leading to fatality
Commenting on this, Dr. Praveer Agarwal, Director and Interventional Cardiologist at Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre, New Delhi said, “Heart patients are at a high risk of suffering from heat strokes during the summer months, a condition with life-threatening consequences. Plaque -narrowed arteries often limit blood flow to the skin thereby triggering a heat stroke. In addition to this, medicines such as beta-blockers slow one’s heartbeat. This limits the heart’s ability to pump blood fast enough to reach the surface of the skin. The symptoms of a heat stroke include sweating, cold, clammy skin, dizziness, fainting, muscle cramps, heat rash, swelling in the ankles, shallow breathing, nausea, and vomiting. To prevent heat strokes, it is crucial for heart patients to remove indoors during the afternoon hours when the temperature is the highest, to wear airy and loose clothing, stay well hydrated and not exercise in the heat. When suspected of a heat stroke, heart patients must be immediately taken to the nearest hospital”
Adding to this, Dr Sanjay Kumar, HOD & Principal Consultant – Cardiology Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad said,“Dehydration, a condition extremely common in the summer months is also dangerous for heart patients. It is a known trigger for atrial fibrillation and strokes. To avoid arrhythmias in the heat, it is important to keep drinking, even if you don’t feel thirsty. People above the age of 50 years often do not recognise that they are thirsty and often become victims of dehydration. They must take special care to ensure that they frequently drink water when outside. Diuretics (water pills), often prescribed to heart patients, make dehydration worse by increasing urine output. Some antidepressants and antihistamines can also block sweating. It is important to check with your doctor regarding reducing the dosage during the summer months if they start to feel dizzy or light-headed. Those patients who have undergone angioplasty or those with stents and artificial heart valves need to be more cautious. Dehydration makes the blood thicken. This causes it stick in the heart nerves blocking the stent, which can become life-threatening. For smooth functioning of the stent, it is essential to maintain a water balance in the body.”
Patients with coronary heart disease may get episodes of angina during the summer months due to the increased workload on the heart and the heightened demand for oxygen. They are also at high risk of atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. It is thus critical for heart patients to stay healthy and take necessary precautions when the temperature rises.
A few ways in which they can ease the strain caused by the summer heat on their heart include limiting outdoor activities such as walking, running and gardening should to cooler times of the day, wearing light-colored clothing in breathable fabrics and, limiting the consumption of caffeinated or alcoholic beverages given their dehydrating effect. Other preventive steps include consuming a light and healthy diet, drinking at least eight to ten glasses of water every day and getting adequate sleep and rest.