9 Ways to Protect Your Heart and Brain From the Summer Heat

64 ounces a day, unless they have cardiovascular conditions that would limit them.

But not alcohol.

Avoid it, Bond says. It can dehydrate you.

Keep cool.

If you don’t have air conditioning, or can’t get to a place that does, Becker suggests getting a fan and a spray bottle or damp cloth.

“The combination of sitting directly in front of a fan and then either spraying a little water on your body or taking a cold wash rag and putting water on your body and evaporating that water off of your skin will help cool you down,” he adds. “That is actually one of the things we do to people in the emergency department.”

Monitor medications.

Because of the extra strain on their systems, heart patients need to be diligent about keeping up with prescriptions.

Some situations might require a doctor’s help. People with high blood pressure or heart failure might use diuretics to help rid the body of excess fluid. But they also might need to increase their fluid intake to cope with the heat. It’s a confusing situation, Becker says. “Because of that, we generally recommend that those people simply avoid heat stress, because it is very difficult to manage that properly.”

Watch what you eat.

If you grew up enjoying summertime staples such as watermelon or cucumbers, go right ahead, Bond says; they’re full of water.

But you may want to avoid heavy meals, Becker notes. When your body is straining to push blood to the skin, that’s not the best time to eat a big meal that’s going to demand that more blood goes to your digestive system.

Watch the clock – and your clothes.

In the triple-digit desert heat of Phoenix, Bond and other physicians routinely remind people to avoid going outdoors in the early afternoon and encourage people to wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Exercise, but be smart about it.

Even in the heat, exercise is important for long-term health. But if you have the option, move your workout indoors – or take up swimming.

Parents and coaches can encourage youth sports but need to be aware of the risks. “Unfortunately, we do lose young people this time of year,” Bond notes. The CDC provides heat-related guidance for athletes.

Take care of one another.

“This is really the time for community spirit,” Becker adds. Social isolation is a root cause in many of the heat deaths he sees.

He suggests checking on at-risk neighbors, friends and relatives. Say, “It’s going to be really hot. Can I help you out?” Invite them to share time in an air-conditioned space. “Because this is truly a time where that kind of spirit can save people’s lives.”

By American Heart Association News