Cardiologist Gulizia: “Heart under stress, let’s protect it and it will thank us”

Muggy, blazing sun and African temperatures. For some weeks Italy has been in check of the heat and the risks for the body are increasing, especially for the heart. “There is a lot of concern about the African heat that is affecting the country and this alarm is very high for people with heart disease, who are wondering what they can do to protect their heart or if they need to change their medications. a tired heart has a harder time pumping blood and putting it into circulation, if we manage to engage it less by following some rules it will thank us “. Michele Gulizia, president of the Foundation for your heart of the National Association of Hospital Cardiologists (Anmco) and director of Cardiology of the Garibaldi-Nesima hospital in Catania, underlines this to Adnkronos Salute. “Changes in climate can affect blood circulation and change what is the dilation or tone of blood vessels so, as well as how cold and vasoconstriction occurs, when the heart and the vascular system are exposed to torrid heat creates a vasodilation that causes a significant reduction in blood pressure. This phenomenon can cause circulatory stress and affect the well-being of the treatment “, warns Gulizia. “Shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, exhaustion and swelling in the legs and ankles, but also loss of appetite and especially nocturia (the increase in the amount of urine emitted at night) – lists the cardiologist – when these symptoms are present they do not always come well The signs of a heart that does not work well are also an asthenia that is associated with the decrease in diuresis during the day and a paradoxical increase in nocturia. This symptomatology – he points out – is also associated with an initial difficulty in breathing that the night can force the subject to sleep in a position with the head higher, the consequence is an accumulation of fluids in the legs and the possibility of having noticeable cardiac arrhythmias “. ‘For those taking drugs, beware of pressure and hydration’ What should someone taking heart drugs do? “The blood pressure values ​​that must be measured when sitting and taking 15 minutes of fear must pay close attention – replies Gulizia – the subject who takes antihypertensive therapy if he has a pressure that goes below the maximum values ​​of 120-115 and 80-75 of minimum must reduce hypertensive drugs or temporarily suspend them. Those who take diuretic drugs must hydrate themselves correctly with smooth, non-carbonated water with low mineral content “. According to the cardiologist, “sudden changes in temperature with sudden changes between hot and cold that can create congestion in heart patients should be avoided – he warns – It would be preferable to spend the holidays in the hills or in the mountains, but below 1500 meters. diet must be adapted to the heat: no fatty foods, a little salt and a portion of red meat a week and two of fish, while it is necessary to focus on cereals, fruit and vegetables.You must drink 1.5-2 liters of water a day. It is always advisable to dress lightly with light-colored clothes and then for those who live by the sea pay attention to blood pressure, the sea – he concludes – makes it increase and therefore not expose yourself to the sun between 12 and 16 because dehydration is more fearful. a few tips that can really save the heart “.