Heat Makes Chronic Health Conditions Worse

Heat Making Chronic Health Conditions Worse. Most of the United States is in a heat wave right now and you have to be very careful because this high heat can make certain health conditions much worse and can be bad for your health. One condition that the heat can affect is your heart when the heat is high it can make your heart work much harder than normal. The heat can make a person have a heart attack or even die. If you already know that you have a heart condition then you have to be careful in this heat.

If it is hot and humid then it can also make you have a dangerous asthma attack. The heat makes your asthma much worse than normal. If you have asthma then you will have to limit your time outside in this heat and make sure if you do go out to carry a rescue inhaler with you. The heat can also make COPD and Emphysema worse.

If you take certain medicines like diuretics then you have to be extra careful in the heat. Some of the most common diuretic medicines are Lasix and Hydrochlorothiazide. You are at higher risk when taking these medication because they make you lose your water weight and you can get dehydrated much easier than a normal person can. If you have high blood pressure then the heat can affect you adversely. People that have poor circulation can also have health problems in the heat.

The heat is also harder on the very young and also on the elderly too. If you have an elderly relative then you can call them and make sure they are ok in this heat. They may not realize that the heat is affecting them immediately so it best to check on them.

If you have any kind of  medical condition then you should check with your doctor before you spend much time outside in this heat. Any person with a chronic medical condition is at a higher risk of not being able to tolerate the heat and should be more careful.

If at all possible then it is advisable to spend time in the air conditioning where it is cool. That is the best place to spend your time in this extreme heat. Fans will help but are not as good as air conditioning. You can still get heat related problems even with a fan because in the extreme heat they are just not keeping you cool enough as you need to be.

You should also make sure that you are drinking enough fluids. You should be drinking water or other fluids but not alcohol or caffeine because both of those can make you much more dehydrated. If your doctor is limiting your fluids then check with your doctor as to how much fluid you should drink. Everyone has got to use much more caution in the heat.