How does high temperature affect the heart?
According to Dr. Pranil Gangurde, cardiologist, Adhikari Lifeline General Hospital, Palghar, India - said: "Exposure to high temperatures not only increases the risk of exhaustion because of heat and heat but also can cause special burden on cardiovascular health.
Your body is designed to lose extra heat in two main ways, each of which can affect the heart:
Radiation: When the air around you is cooler than your body, you radiate more heat into the air. This process requires rerouting blood flow so that more blood goes to the skin.
Evaporation: The evaporation of sweat helps cool you down by pulling heat away from your skin. When the air is dry, this works well. But when it's hot and humid, sweat just sits on your skin as your body temperature rises.
Precautions
Here are some precautions Dr. Gangrude recommends to protect your heart health amid rising temperatures.
- When you go out, try to drink 1 sip (about 20ml) of water every 20 minutes.
- If you have heart failure, ask your doctor how much fluid you should drink each day, as fluid can build up and cause swelling.
- Avoid tea, coffee, soda or fruit juice and limit alcohol. Soda and fruit juice can slow the movement of water from the digestive system into the blood. Tea, coffee and alcohol can increase heart rate and blood pressure and add stress to the heart.
- Protect your skin by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Also, apply a generous amount of broad-spectrum or UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to all exposed skin 30 minutes before going outside.
