HEART PROBLEMS AND HOT WEATHER: HOW TO STAY SAFE

Summer is a season for fun and frivolity in the sun, but it can also be dangerous for your heart health. Your heart works harder when you’re hot or suffering from dehydration, as the body tries to cool itself by shifting blood away from major organs to up under the skin, pumping harder and putting it under an increasing amount of stress.

Staying cool and hydrated in the summer can help keep your heart healthy and thriving, effectively circulating blood throughout your systems. Here’s how to stay safe on even the hottest summer days.

Dress for the Weather

It’s tempting to stick to that one really great pair of jeans year round, but to make it easier for your heart to function you really need to dress for the weather. Long sleeved, lightweight gear is the best choice, covering your skin while allowing a breeze to pass through and cool you down.

Stay in the Shade

Not only is it great for minimizing sun exposure, staying in the shade may actually make your body feel cooler—meaning your heart won’t have to work as hard. Direct sunlight may actually make you feel like the air is 10-15 degrees warmer, so taking regular shade breaks can make a big difference in your overall comfort.

Stay Consistent with Your Medication

Your schedule might change in the summer months, with kids out of school and a day packed with activities, but it’s critical that you be consistent with your medication for optimal health. Try bringing any essential medications with you, and set a timer so you never miss a dose.

Eat Foods that Keep You Hydrated

Hydration is essential to heart health, as it helps your heart work more efficiently and with less strain. Eating hydration boosting foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, while avoiding overly salty, sweet, or processed junk foods, helps your heart get the hydration it needs.

Wear Compression Socks

Compression socks help blood move more effectively throughout your body, supporting the healthy function of your heart and reducing strain. Simply popping on a pair of Wellow compression socks on a hot summer morning can be the perfect healthy boost for even the most sweltering day.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Worried you may have heat exhaustion? Here are the symptoms to look out for:

• Skin is cool and moist, you may have chills
• Heavy sweating
• Pulse is rapid and weak
• Breathing is shallow and rapid
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Muscular cramping
• Headaches
• Dizziness or fainting

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

These are the symptoms that may indicate that you or a loved one is suffering from heat stroke:

• Skin is warm and dry, with no sweat
• Pulse is rapid and strong
• You are mentally disoriented, and may fall unconscious 
• High fever
• Throbbing headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting

If you experience these symptoms, make sure to call for medical assistance as soon as possible. But by following our easy tips, you should be able to stay safe and comfortable throughout the hottest summer days.