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Your Heart and Humidity
Your Heart and HumidityHot, humid days affect everyone, but heat can be especially dangerous if you have heart disease.When the temperature rises, your heart beats faster to pump blood to your skin to cool off your body.When you sweat, you lose sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes your heart needs to keep workingproperly.Heart medications such as beta blockers and diuretics can also cause heat-related heart problems.Heat exhaustion can be serious, but you can follow this simple checklist to prevent it.Do: Exercise indoors on hot, humid days.Do: Take frequent breaks in a cool place when outside.Do: Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to help your body produce cooling sweat, even in a pool! If you havefluid restrictions, talk to your doctor about ways to stay hydrated.Do: Learn to recognize the early signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.Do Not: Exercise mid-day when the sun is the hottest. Try to do outdoor activities in the morning or evening.Do Not: Eat too much. It can actually overheat your body more easily, as it has to burn calories as well.If you experience any of these symptoms: heat rash, nausea or vomiting, or confusion, it could mean you haveheat exhaustion.Even a headache and a clammy feeling over the body is an early warning symptom. This is serious and youwill need medical attention.Get out of the sun, cool off, and drink cool water.Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse.Remember to use high level sunscreen all the time and use this health checklist to stay cool and safe inthe sun!This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG56052B EN YourHeartAndHumidity.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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