5 health issues that can worsen in a heat wave including how high temps can trigger a heart attack and stroke

This week, millions of Americans — including New Yorkers — are grappling with what forecasters are calling a “very sweaty” heatwave.It’s miserable — but it’s worth remembering that, without the proper precautions, it’s also extremely dangerous.Dehydration can cause dizziness, headaches, low blood pressure, blurred vision, kidney problems and, in extreme cases, fatal heatstroke.And that’s just in healthy people.

While everyone should try to stay cool and hydrated in these sizzling temperatures, The Post spoke to two doctors who warn that people with these health issues are at especially high risk.“Those with cardiovascular disease are at high risk since these patients are often asked to limit fluid intake,” Dr.Thomas Gut, Associate Chair of Medicine at Northwell’s Staten Island University Hospital, told The Post.“Sweating beyond the normal daily expected amount can lead to significant fluid shifts and electrolyte imbalances that can cause significant harm, especially to those already taking diuretics medications.”Dr.

Nima Majlesi, who practices emergency medicine at the same hospital, told The Post that high temperatures can mess with the normal blood flow to the heart, potentially causing acute coronary syndrome, which spikes the risk of heart attack.When you get really hot, your body needs to work harder to cool you down, which can also place more strain on the heart.For this reason, people who are at risk for heart failure are also in danger of getting worse in the heat, Majlesi noted.It’s normal to experience some difficulty breathing when it’s really hot, because your body’s attempts to cool down require more oxygen.

However, Gut warns that people with respiratory diseases are at greater risk because “hot air, especially if humid, can trigger patients with even well-controlled breathing conditions into rapid and shallow breathing.”Those who depend on supplied oxygen are of particular concern, since power outages are more...