Hot Weather & Your Heart: Risks & Safety Tips for Patients

• High temperatures (above 35°C) force the heart to work harder to cool the body, increasing heart rate and strain.
• Excessive sweating leads to dehydration, reducing blood volume and lowering blood pressure, causing dizziness, weakness, and fainting.
• Heat dilates blood vessels, which can disrupt heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and increase the risk of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, heart attack, or stroke.
• Dr. Vanita Arora, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, advises staying hydrated (8-10 glasses of water), avoiding peak heat (12-5 PM), and wearing light clothes.
• Heart patients must take medications on time, manage their diet, and seek immediate medical help for symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or confusion.