IF you have undiagnosed heart disease, hot weather could exacerbate underlying symptoms, leading to a diagnosis.
The tip comes from Dr Samantha Wild, Women’s Health Clinical Lead and GP at Bupa Health Clinics.
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This can happen because hot weather places your heart under more strain than usual as it tries to regulate your body’s temperature.
And Dr Wild warned: “If you have heart disease, the risk of heart attacks, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) and heart failure all increase when the weather is hot.
“The hotter the weather, the greater the risk becomes.”
So how can you spot heart disease during hot weather?
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According to Dr Wild, several symptoms can occur when the weather is hot that can also be indicative of underlying heart disease:
- Light-headedness: The sensation that your surroundings are spinning, or dizziness
- Sweating: Feeling sweatier than usual, even when you’ve not been exercising
- Chest pain: A tight, squeezed or heavy sensation in your chest that may go up into your neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back and down your arms, especially the left arm
- Fatigue: Feeling tired and having no energy without any obvious reason
- Breathlessness: Finding it difficult to breath comfortably or steadily
- Changes to your heartbeat: Feeling your heart beating faster or more slowly than usual
- Nausea: Feeling like you might be sick
If you have heart disease, the most important thing to do is to keep your body cool and well-hydrated.
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Dr Wild advised: “Try to stay in places that are cool.
“This means avoiding direct sunlight when the day is at its hottest (between 11am and 3pm).
“If you have to be outside during that time, aim to spend time in the shade and make sure you bring water with you to keep hydrated.
“If you’re in the house, try to keep your home as cool as possible. Use shutters, curtains or blinds to block out the sunlight during the day, use a fan and only open windows later in the day when it becomes cooler outside than it is in your home.
“Only use electrical equipment when needed – switch off what you don’t use at the plug socket to help keep your home cooler.”
Wearing clothes that are lightweight and loose can also help your skin breathe and avoid extreme physical exercise to avoid overheating.
And what you eat and drink can also make a difference.
Dr Wild said: “Throughout the day, drink lots of water to help your body compensate for what it’s sweating out and to help keep your blood pressure steady.
“If you have heart failure, speak to your GP about how much you should drink during hot weather.
“Water-rich cold foods, like salads and fruit, can also help keep you hydrated and nourished.
“Avoid excessive alcohol as this can dehydrate you further.”
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If you feel unwell during hot weather and still don’t feel well after resting in a cool place for 30 minutes, speak to a health professional.
Dr Wild added: “Also speak to a health professional if you experience bodily discomfort, with symptoms affecting your heart, when the weather is hot.”
6 ways to prevent heart disease
Simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, according to the NHS.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
A low-fat, high-fibre diet is deemed best – so plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Salt should be limited to 6g a day and foods containing saturated fats, like meat pies and butter, should be avoided.
But include foods high in unsaturated fat, such as oily fish, avocados, and nuts and seeds.
Be more physically active
Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight which can reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
Your GP can tell you what your ideal weight is, or you can calculate your body mass index (BMI) online.
Give up smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis (furring of the arteries), so giving up can reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Cut back on your alcohol consumption
Binge drinking increases the risk of heart attack, so make sure to stick to the recommended limits.
Men and women shouldn’t regularly drink more than 14 units a week, this should be spread over three days or more, and you should try to have drink-free days each week.
Keep your diabetes under control
You have a greater chance of developing heart disease if you have diabetes, so keep this in check by being physically active and controlling your weight.
Your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels should be checked regularly.
Take any prescribed medicine
If you have heart disease and are prescribed medicine, make sure to take it and follow the correct dosage.
Don’t stop taking medicine without consulting your doctor first.