Cardiologists Urge Precautions to Protect Heart Health in Hot Weather

Cardiologists warn that hot weather increases blood pressure risks and places extra strain on the cardiovascular system. When temperatures rise above 30 degrees, sweating can increase several times over, raising the risk of palpitations, elevated blood pressure, leg swelling and blood clots. They say the same conditions can also increase the risk of hypertensive crisis, heart attack and stroke. For people working outdoors, experts recommend resting for 15-20 minutes after every 30-40 minutes of work and avoiding time outside during the hottest hours of the day. Health specialists also advise using a hat and drinking at least 1.5 to 2.5 litres of fluids a day. Very cold drinks should be avoided, while water, green tea, mint drink and fruit juice are preferred. They further recommend staying away from heavy, fatty, spicy and salty foods. Patients with heart and blood pressure conditions are advised to take their medication regularly, exactly as prescribed by their doctor.