Managing Chronic Conditions During Extreme Heat
It has been recently reported that, extreme heat worsens chronic health in millions of Americans with heart failure topping the bill. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart isn’t able to pump oxygen-rich blood at full strength to the entire body, even in normal temperatures. When temperature increases the risk of heart failure also increases.
In states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolinathe prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease ranks among the highest in the nation. thesis health issues hinder the body’s ability to regulate temperature effectively during heat waves.
According to 2019-21 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults on Medicare living in Southern and Eastern states had the highest rates of hospitalization for heart failure in the US.
Staying safe in the heat
- Drink plenty of water.
- Recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses, including cramping, muscle spasms, dizziness, headaches, weakness, nausea and confusion. If in doubt – seek medical attention.
- Be sun smart – when you go out, cover up, wear sun cream, take breaks and wear light colored clothing.
- Weather is better – Heat escapes through the skin, so, the more skin you can cool down, the better. Try drenching a t-shirt or take a cool shower.
- Limit your alcohol – Alcohol causes dehydration, so best avoid.
- Eat light meals to feel cooler – eat light and food high in water content such as; strawberries, cucumber, celery, and lettuce.
- Limit physical activity to cooler parts of the day – it could be dangerous to exercise in the midday sun and risk dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.
- Keep your home cool. Pull shades and shutters to keep direct sunlight out, keep outdoor doors closed as they will let heat in when open and invest in fan
- Know the risks – educate yourself and visit The American Heart Association
Are you experiencing heart palpitations? Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart. Stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, a medical condition can trigger them.
Common causes include:
- strenuous exercise
- lack of sleep
- stress and anxiety
- medicines
- alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and recreational drugs
Heart palpitations are common and not usually a sign of anything serious. Heart palpitations may occasionally indicate that an individual is experiencing menopause. Additionally, some individuals may encounter these sensations during pregnancy. In rarer instances, palpitations can result from medical conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, hyperthyroidism, or arrhythmia.
Seek medical advice if you have cardiac palpitations and:
- they keep coming back or they’re getting worse
- they last longer than a few minutes
- you have a heart condition
- you have a history of heart problems in your family
What does a heart attack feel like? For heart attacks, “How do I know if I’m having a heart attack?” – the key indicators are; chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chest. If you experience these – seek urgent medical help.
Top tips to avoid a heart attack:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet
- Be more physically active
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Give up smoking
- Reduce your alcohol consumption
- Keep your blood pressure under control
- Keep your diabetes under control
- Take any prescribed medicine
