For many people, hot weather means finding a cool place, drinking more water and staying out of the sun. For people with heart problems, however, summer can require a little more care.
Sweating, fluid loss and an increased heart rate are normal responses to heat, but they can create problems for people with coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, heart failure or rhythm disorders.
Enes Çelik, a cardiologist at Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, said the effects of hot weather can vary depending on a patient's condition.
“Heat brings different mechanisms to the forefront depending on whether a person has coronary artery disease, hypertension, heart failure or an arrhythmia,” Çelik said.
When temperatures rise, blood vessels near the skin widen and sweating increases. Losing too much fluid can reduce blood volume and cause electrolyte changes.
