On the one hand, we long for the sun, but when the heat is pouring down from the sky, our whole body says enough. The heart doesn’t break at all here. On such days, it should be under special protection, because it works harder. The cardiologist tells you how to cool them. It also explains why people with heart failure on hot days should weigh themselves every day and be careful about… drinking water.
- The circulatory system is more stressed on hot days. If he lacks fluid – because we drink too little – his heart must pump blood faster. It hits faster – says dr hab. n. med. Piotr Dobrowolski
- Healthy people should drink at least 2-2,5 liters of liquids on hot days, the expert emphasizes. However, he added, this recommendation cannot be applied to people with heart failure
- This group should pay special attention to whether they are not gaining weight
- If the weight increases by 1-2 kilograms in one day, this is a lot. This should make a person with heart failure see their doctor or at least call for advice – says Dr. Dobrowolski
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Hearts and the heat
Klaudia Torchała, Medonet: Why doesn’t the heart like hot weather?
Dr hab. n. med. Piotr Dobrowolski from the National Institute of Cardiology: I think that not only the heart does not like hot weather, but our whole body does not like hot weather, especially the circulatory system, because it is much more loaded in heat. The circulatory system is nothing more than fluid – blood to be exact – circulating throughout the body.
So it is a closed circuit, but on hot days there is some risk. This water from our circulation is depleted faster because it evaporates, which means that our body sweats more intensively than usual. Rather, we will not dry out to a chip, but …
In the heat, if we do not supply the right amount of fluid from the outside, this supply of internal fluids decreases, hence we feel weaker. That is why proper irrigation is so important. Unfortunately, it is most often forgotten by the elderly, who no longer have as much thirst as young, active people. The latter are more likely to reach for water when it is too hot for them.
Are we more exposed to the invasion of the heart in hot weather?
In hot weather, our body is actually on a higher level. If he lacks fluid – because we drink too little – his heart must pump blood faster. Its work increases, it hits more times per minute. At the same time, on such hot days there is a greater need for oxygen in the heart. If it is not supplied in sufficient quantity, myocardial ischemia and a heart attack can occur.
Cardological mathematics
Practically looking. Will our heart be grateful for one 1,5 liter bottle of water in the summer, or is it not enough?
It is definitely not enough, although I will make an important disclaimer that I am not talking about people who suffer from heart failure. But more on that in a moment … Healthy people should drink at least 2-2,5 liters of fluids on hot days. With physical activity, it will be more, because we also lose more of it.
Will we throw in soup bills, probably coolers, and various other drinks?
Definitely yes. The liquid is not only mineral water, but also tea, compote or liquid dishes. It all adds up. But please remember that this cannot be reduced to pure mathematics.
You didn’t mention the coffee, which with the addition of ice just saves me when the heat is pouring from the sky. Do we have to watch out for her on these hot days? After all, it’s a stimulant, bad for the heart
Especially young people in hot weather like iced coffee and drink a lot of it. This is not entirely good, because coffee is a natural diuretic, which means it has a diuretic effect. We need to know this and just drink more water to make up for this loss.
This explains why Italians place a small glass of water next to a thick espresso. Health-related.
I would even say that it is a bit too little. It is said that every cup of coffee should actually be replaced with a cup of water.
Heart failure and heat
You mentioned earlier about people with heart failure and that they should drink in hot weather … Well, more than the 2-2,5 liters?
On the contrary. Too much water, with too low the ejection fraction of the heart, i.e. heart failure, may result in too much fluid in the body and may aggravate the failure. Therefore, they should be especially careful in hot weather. Save yourself, avoid exposure to the sun, reduce physical exertion and control fluid and body weight.
Body weight? Why? After all, we usually lose our appetite on such days.
Body weight and fluid intake are related …
Does this mean that on hot days these people should gain weight every day?
Exactly. If they notice that in the following days they gain weight or their abdominal circumference increases, or the lower limbs are swollen, it can be concluded that they have too much water in them. Then it is best to consult the attending physician. Perhaps the doctor will change the therapy. Will increase diuretics or recommend that you drink less. In fact, people with heart failure should avoid hot weather, keep a close eye on their body, and not increase their physical activity on such days. Put it aside, if necessary, until the morning hours or evening hours, when the temperature is lower.
So how much should a person with heart failure drink on hot days?
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It is very difficult to define really. Much depends on the left ventricular ejection fraction.
What is she?
It is the contraction of the heart muscle, thanks to which blood is pumped around the perimeter, i.e. throughout the body. If the patient has a slightly impaired ejection capacity, let’s assume that it is 40%, then he will be able to drink more fluids – from 1,5 to 2 liters. However, if it has a smaller fraction, e.g. 15%, it must limit this supply. He will then be able to drink about 1 liter a day. But I emphasize that all this should be consulted with a doctor.
But let me bring it back to mathematics again. If such a patient with heart failure stands on the weight and the weight goes up, when should he be concerned? It is known that we catch up on hot days in the evening because we did not feel like eating during the day.
Yes it’s true. But if a patient has heart failure and he has too much fluid in him, the arrow on the scale should alert him. In such a case, it will not be the result of eating too much one day, because it will not translate so much into his weight immediately. If his body weight increases by 1-2 kilograms in one day, this is a lot. That should get him to see his doctor, or at least call him for advice.
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