Keeping cool
Summer is definitely
here, and while many of us have been longing for the hot weather,
it's still important to look after yourself in the heat!
When the weather is hot our body sweats to cool down, but this
means that we lose more volume of
fluid than usual from our body. This can drop our
blood pressure a bit and make our heart beat faster.
This is not a problem for most of us as long as we drink
plenty of fluids, like water or
other sugar-free drinks to keep from getting dehydrated to avoid
getting heatstroke.
However, if you have underlying heart
disease, particularly if you have heart failure where your heart doesn't pump as
well as it should, the hot weather can be a
problem.
So it's important to:
- Keep hydrated. (Though
if you've been told to restrict your fluid intake for medical
reasons you should speak to your GP.)
- Stay out of the heat in the hottest part of
the day between 11am and 3pm.
- Make sure your home is cool when you're
staying indoors.
Looking after the family
The elderly and very
young have more difficulty in regulating their temperature
and so can be more at risk from extreme temperatures.
It's important to not stay in the heat for
long periods of time and that drink adequate fluids.
Read our information sheet on
extreme temperatures and high altitude.