Warmer weather is on the way! Watch out for heart attacks!
Air temperatures above seasonal norms negatively affect the elderly and those with chronic diseases, especially those with cardiovascular diseases.
Pointing out that the body loses a high amount of fluid, sodium and potassium due to sweating in hot weather, Cardiology Specialist Dr. Ömer Erhan Karahasanoğlu stated that these electrolyte losses can lead to serious problems in cardiovascular patients.
"TEMPERATURES ARE INCREASING EVERY YEAR"Stating that temperatures are increasing every year with global warming and temperatures above 40 degrees are now routine, Specialist Dr. Karahasanoğlu said, "High temperatures mean a lot of fluid loss and electrolyte loss, that is, salt loss such as sodium and potassium loss. Due to the water and electrolyte losses experienced, blood pressure drops, excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system due to heat, heart rhythm disorders, and hypertension attacks may be observed. In patients with heart failure, heart failure due to electrolyte, sodium, potassium loss and related respiratory problems may occur. In patients with rhythm disorders, rhythm disorder attacks due to high temperatures may increase. In addition, high temperatures increase the risk of heart attack. Chest pain and heart attack may be triggered in hot weather due to blood pressure and rhythm disorders."
Cardiology Specialist Dr. Karahasanoğlu, who drew attention to the fact that high temperatures can trigger diseases in people who have previously suffered from cardiovascular disease, said, "Hypertensive attacks can occur due to high temperatures. Some patients may faint due to low blood pressure. High temperatures can cause a heart attack as the first attack in patients who have not had cardiovascular disease before."
"IF POSSIBLE, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT AT NOON"Noting that there are certain issues that all citizens should pay attention to in daily life in order to protect themselves from the heat, Specialist Dr. Karahasanoğlu said, "There are issues that everyone, especially those with cardiovascular disease, should pay more attention to. It is necessary not to go outdoors between 12 and 16 noon, when the sun is at its peak. Those who have to go outdoors should definitely use materials that will provide shade such as hats or umbrellas and consume plenty of fluids outdoors. Patients whose doctors recommend walking and exercising should do their exercises early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. Everyone should consume plenty of fluids at all times of the day. However, we recommend that they monitor their weight while consuming this fluid so that they do not gain weight. They should prefer lighter colored, cotton clothes."
Underlining that the number of patients with cardiovascular disease has increased in recent years due to diagnosis as well as risk factors, Specialist Dr. Karahasanoğlu made the following suggestions: "We eat more than before, thus we consume more calories and have a more sedentary lifestyle. Smoking has increased at a young age. Cardiovascular diseases are also triggered due to substance use. In this regard, we can say that cardiovascular disease problems and heart attacks are increasing in young people. Accordingly, diseases can be diagnosed more easily due to the development of technologies used in medicine. While in the past, most patients' diseases could not be determined and sudden deaths could be encountered, now that it is easier to diagnose with the means we have, the rate of these cardiovascular diseases in young people is increasing."
Habertürk
