The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends that healthy adults drink around 1.5 liters per day. Your fluid intake should never fall below one liter per day. In high summer temperatures, an increase of over 1.5 liters is recommended for healthy people of all ages. For some diseases, the fluid intake must be adapted to the individual physical conditions. This also applies to people who suffer from heart disease.
Heat and heart medication
High summer temperatures are a strain on the human body. However, if the body is healthy, it can compensate for this with appropriate behavior. For heart patients, however, the heat can become a risk. The German Heart Foundation recommends that anyone taking heart medication should always consult their doctor if the temperature is high. Sometimes it is necessary to adjust the dosage of the medication to the physical processes in the heat. Heat can have an influence on heart activity and blood pressure that should not be underestimated. People with high blood pressure should therefore also be careful when temperatures rise. In most cases, a medication adjustment is urgently required at outside temperatures of around 30 degrees and above.
Better to make provisions for your health in good time
Every summer there are a few days that are extremely hot and humid. Even healthy people then experience reduced vitality. The heat affects your circulation. In these weather conditions, it is advisable for everyone to stay in shady places or cooler rooms. However, overly air-conditioned rooms can individually increase the risk of catching a cold. Refreshments with water from outside help the body to cope more easily with the outside temperatures. Sufficient fluid intake is necessary. Almost everyone feels more thirsty in the heat. People with heart disease should discuss their individual fluid intake with their doctor. As heart disease can progress in very different ways, the precautions to be taken in the heat can also vary from person to person. In most cases, however, the doctor will increase the amount you drink and adjust the dosage of medication to the high temperatures.
Cardiovascular problems in the heat
The heart has to work harder at high temperatures. It constantly tries to cool the body’s internal temperature down to a healthy level of between 36.3 and 37.4 degrees Celsius. The blood absorbs the excess heat. This is transported into the smaller skin vessels so that the heat can be released into the air. If the heart is very active, more blood can be pumped through the body in the veins and faster body cooling can be achieved. Heat generally increases the risk of dizziness, tiredness, headaches, muscle cramps, a drop in blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia. In severe cases, a circulatory collapse can occur. It is therefore extremely important for people with heart disease to drink enough water in the summer heat. Disease-related thirst disorders and possible diuretic medication should also be taken into account. If the loss of water due to medication and heat is too high, the blood volume in the veins is reduced, as described above. The drop in blood pressure in the blood vessels increases the risk of circulatory collapse, which can even be accompanied by a brief loss of consciousness.
Caution in extreme heat: When standing up after sitting for a long time or from a lying position, falling blood pressure under the influence of heat can quickly lead to circulatory problems. Getting up slowly and drinking enough fluids can prevent this.
