"Lao Liu, I see that you don't look good lately, is there anything uncomfortable?" asked Lao Zhang, an old friend, with concern. Lao Liu, a retired teacher in his sixties, is enthusiastic about community activities and helpful on weekdays. Recently, however, he has been feeling chest tightness and fatigue, especially in the scorching afternoons. Facing Lao Zhang's inquiry, Lao Liu shook his head helplessly: "Alas, I'm getting old, maybe I'm old, and my body is a little unbearable." ”
As a retired doctor at the community health center, Lao Zhang has always been concerned about the health of residents. Looking at Lao Liu's slightly tired face, he keenly noticed a trace of abnormality: "Lao Liu, you can't be careless with these symptoms. Did you know that as temperatures rise, especially on hot summer days like this, the risk of heart attack increases significantly. Have you ever considered that it could be the heart warning you?"
When Lao Liu heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned, he had never associated summer discomfort with heart disease. He looked at Lao Zhang suspiciously: "Is the high temperature related to heart disease? Lao Zhang smiled slightly and decided to take this opportunity to give Lao Liu a "science lesson" on temperature and heart health, to help him correctly understand and deal with the potential risk of heart disease in summer. A discussion on the impact of summer heat and heart health will begin and the conversation will draw more attention to this neglected health issue.
01
First, the heat acts as an invisible talisman that spithes the risk of myocardial infarction (myocardial infarction). The data warns us that when the temperature crosses the 30°C threshold, the probability of heart attack in patients with heart disease increases by 40%. This means that for them, the hot summer is no longer a paradise to enjoy the sun, but a thrilling danger
Second, the heat acts like a relentless juicer, forcing the skin to overload the body's heat dissipation organ. When sweat rains, the delicate balance of water and electrolytes in the body is disrupted, and the heart has to pump blood with all its strength to maintain blood circulation and body temperature.
However, for the already overwhelmed heart, this extra effort is tantamount to adding insult to injury, which may lead to heart rate disorders, blood pressure fluctuations, and a series of cardiovascular events such as angina pectoris and arrhythmia.
Finally, high temperatures not only exert stress on a physical level, but also create a stressful atmosphere on a psychological level. The discomfort brought by the heat is like an invisible hand, which stirs people's nerves and gives rise to negative emotions such as anxiety and irritability. These emotions act as a fuse, stimulating the nervous system, causing heart rate and blood pressure to rise, exerting indirect pressure on the heart.
At the same time, the poor sleep quality caused by high temperatures, and the lack or poor quality of sleep for a long time are also independent risk factors for heart disease.
02
Myth 1: Excessive outdoor activities in high temperatures. Some elderly people or patients with heart disease ignore the potential threat of high temperature to the heart, and expose them to the scorching sun for a long time, resulting in an increase in body temperature, an increase in the burden of heart heat dissipation, and problems such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, arrhythmia, and blood pressure fluctuations.
Myth 2: Ignoring indoor environmental regulation. Some people think that indoor heat can avoid the hazards, but in fact, they ignore the potential effects of indoor high temperature and damp heat on the heart. The lack of air conditioning, fans or poor ventilation leads to high indoor temperature and humidity, which not only makes people feel uncomfortable, but also causes heart disease patients to have symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations due to increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and induces angina pectoris or even myocardial infarction in severe cases, and reduces the quality of life.
Myth 3: Ignoring water replenishment can lead to dehydration. Sweating increases in high temperatures, and some people fail to replenish water in time and in sufficient amounts, resulting in mild to moderate dehydration. Dehydration not only affects the blood supply to the heart, but can also lead to increased blood viscosity and an increased risk of blood clots, especially for people with heart disease.
Myth 4: Ignoring dietary adjustments and consuming too much high-fat and high-salt foods. In summer, appetite decreases, and some people choose high-fat and high-salt foods such as cold drinks, barbecue, and pickles, which are easy to induce increased blood lipids and aggravate atherosclerosis.
Myth 5: Ignoring body signals and delaying medical treatment. Some heart disease patients experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations and other discomforts in high temperatures, mistakenly believing that it is a normal physiological reaction and failing to seek medical attention in time. These symptoms can be a sign of an exacerbation or acute attack of heart disease, and delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to worsening of the condition, missing the best time for treatment, and increasing the risk of complications.
03
Plan for activity and rest: Avoid the scorching sun in the middle of the day and choose cool times in the morning and evening for light to moderate aerobic exercise, such as jogging, brisk walking, tai chi, and avoid excessive sweating and rapid heartbeat caused by strenuous exercise. Don't stay up late and get plenty of rest.
Create a comfortable indoor environment: turn on the air conditioner or fan, keep the indoor temperature 24-26°C, humidity 40%-60%, and air circulation. Open windows regularly for ventilation, use humidifiers or water basins to maintain proper humidity and avoid dry air.
Adequate hydration and electrolyte balance: Drink at least 2000ml of water regularly and quantitatively every day, in small sips. Choose plain water, light salt water, low-sugar electrolyte drinks, and avoid drinking a lot of water at one time. Eat foods containing potassium and sodium, such as bananas, oranges, yogurt, and porridge, to replenish the loss of minerals during sweating.
Eat a healthy diet and limit salt and fat: Avoid high-salt and high-fat foods such as pickles, barbecue, and fried foods to prevent increased blood pressure and dyslipidemia. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, high-quality protein such as fish, chicken breast and tofu to provide vitamins, dietary fiber and protein to maintain cardiovascular health. Limit alcohol intake and avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
Regular physical examination and timely medical treatment: Regular heart health check-ups, such as electrocardiogram, echocardiography, blood lipids, blood sugar, etc. Heart discomfort such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitation, fatigue, especially those related to temperature changes, should seek medical attention immediately without delay.
Note: The health and wellness suggestions in the article are for reference only (part of the picture is from the Internet, and the infringement contact is deleted)