With heat, hypertensive people can be quickly undermined. Is there a temperature threshold beyond which they should not go out? A cardiologist answers us.
Hypertension and heat, do they clean up?
When you suffer from hypertension, or other chronic pathology, it is necessary to pay attention to heat and exposure to the sun. “” When it is hot, the heart provides additional work », Explique Le Cardiologue DN Jean-François Renucci. « It sends blood to different organs, and lowers body temperature thanks to perspiration. The heart can poorly endure these efforts, and the body quickly arrives at dehydration because it lacks water. »
How do you know that you risk a heat stroke or a sunstroke? “” It can happen even when there is no sun but it is still hot “Specifies the doctor. “” In general we see him coming, there is a feeling of discomfort, a significant fatigue, a drowsiness that settles, headache, dizziness, we have the heart that beats faster, red face. Sometimes we don’t even sweat anymore when we are very hot, there it’s serious! ». You must then act immediately, put yourself in the shade, rest and drink a lot of water. Fortunately, these cases, although spectacular, are rare.
Heat wave and hypertension: what to do?
But to avoid going so far as to sunstroke or hot stroke, there are measures to be taken, especially if you suffer from hypertension. “If you can stay at home, you have to do it. Try to refresh yourself with a fan, by regularly spending water on the face and the neck, and especially by drinking a lot, 2 liters of water per day “, Advises Dr. Renucci, who also recommends not to drink alcohol over this period,” It is a vasoconstrictor ».
In terms of hypertensive medical treatment, ” At least half the diuretic treatment is usually reduced because it causes water to lose. You have to see with your doctor. But the most important measure is to keep cool, not to make intense efforts, and to avoid going out over the hottest hours of the day. “” Take out rather in the morning early, and after 4 p.m. ».
So what temperature should we avoid going out? There is no precise recommendation, but according to Dr. Renucci ” Beyond 30-35 degrees, we should ideally stay at home and only go out », Of course this measure is often complicated to respect for workers. But if you don’t feel well, take care of your health first and go home, see a doctor or put a day off if you have the possibility.
