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Rachel V Thomas

Heatwave: Why Elderly Cardiac Patients Are More Vulnerable To Heatstroke?

Amid continuing heatwave conditions in northern India, prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can trigger serious and potentially fatal medical emergencies, particularly among elderly individuals and cardiac patients, according to an expert.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe temperatures across several states.

"Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions likely to continue to prevail over northwest &amp; central India during the week and over East India during the next 5 days," the IMD said, in its latest update on May 20.

It added that severe heat conditions will persist for at least the next 72 hours across Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Temperatures in several cities are expected to touch 47°C to 48°C, with Banda currently emerging as the hottest place in the country.

Dr. Vaibhav Mishra, Senior Director &amp; Head, CTVS, Max Super Speciality Hospital, told HealthandMe that heat-related illnesses are not limited to discomfort or dehydration alone, and can rapidly worsen if early warning signs are ignored.

<h2>Heat Exhaustion Vs Heat Stroke</h2>

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There are two major heat-related illnesses that people must understand so that timely precautions can be taken — heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

"Heat exhaustion is a milder and more common condition and typically occurs after prolonged exposure to high temperatures or intense physical activity in the outdoors," Dr. Vaibhav said.

Excessive sweating leads to significant loss of water and salts from the body, resulting in:

<ul><li>dehydration,</li><li>fatigue,</li><li>dizziness,</li><li>muscle cramps,</li><li>weakness,</li><li>headache,</li><li>nausea.</li></ul>The body temperature is generally below 103°F. Most patients improve quickly with rest, oral fluids, cooling measures, and moving to a shaded or air-conditioned environment.

"However, if heat exposure continues and the body’s cooling mechanisms begin to fail, the condition can progress to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. In heat stroke, body temperature often rises above 104°F," Dr Vaibhav told HealthandMe.

What may initially appear as confusion, disorientation, or irrelevant talking can rapidly worsen into:

<ul><li>altered consciousness,</li><li>seizures,</li><li>coma,</li><li>death.</li></ul>

<h2>How Heat Affects The Heart</h2>

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Dr Vaibhav said that to cool the body during extreme heat, the heart has to work harder and beat faster so that more blood can be directed towards the skin for heat dissipation.

"This places additional stress on an already weakened heart. Many cardiac patients are also on medications such as diuretics, which increase fluid loss and dehydration. Certain blood pressure medicines may blunt the body’s normal response to heat and delay warning symptoms," the expert told HealthandMe.

Dehydration further thickens the blood and, combined with increased cardiac workload, can significantly raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dangerous rhythm disturbances.

Dr. Vaibhav stressed the critical need for early recognition of symptoms, especially in vulnerable individuals such as elderly people and cardiac patients, who are much more susceptible to heat-related complications.

Simple preventive measures can save lives. These include

<ul><li>avoiding direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours, </li><li>maintaining adequate hydration, </li><li>wearing loose cotton clothing, </li><li>avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, </li><li>never ignoring early symptoms such as excessive fatigue, dizziness, or confusion.</li></ul>

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Amid continuing heatwave conditions in northern India, prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can trigger serious and potentially fatal medical emergencies, particularly among elderly individuals and cardiac patients, according to an expert.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe temperatures across several states."Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions likely to continue to prevail over northwest & central India during the week and over East India during the next 5 days," the IMD said, in its latest update on May 20.It added that severe heat conditions will persist for at least the next 72 hours across Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Temperatures in several cities are expected to touch 47°C to 48°C, with Banda currently emerging as the hottest place in the country.Dr. Vaibhav Mishra, Senior Director & Head, CTVS, Max Super Speciality Hospital, told HealthandMe that heat-related illnesses are not limited to discomfort or dehydration alone, and can rapidly worsen if early warning signs are ignored.Heat Exhaustion Vs Heat StrokeAlso read: LDL Normal? THIS Hidden Type Of Cholesterol Does More Harm SilentlyThere are two major heat-related illnesses that people must understand so that timely precautions can be taken — heat exhaustion and heat stroke."Heat exhaustion is a milder and more common condition and typically occurs after prolonged exposure to high temperatures or intense physical activity in the outdoors," Dr. Vaibhav said.Excessive sweating leads to significant loss of water and salts from the body, resulting in:dehydration,fatigue,dizziness,muscle cramps,weakness,headache,nausea.The body temperature is generally below 103°F. Most patients improve quickly with rest, oral fluids, cooling measures, and moving to a shaded or air-conditioned environment."However, if heat exposure continues and the body’s cooling mechanisms begin to fail, the condition can progress to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. In heat stroke, body temperature often rises above 104°F," Dr Vaibhav told HealthandMe.What may initially appear as confusion, disorientation, or irrelevant talking can rapidly worsen into:altered consciousness,seizures,coma,death.How Heat Affects The HeartRead More: Bundibugyo Ebola Cases Rise To 600 As Scientists Investigate Spillover EventDr Vaibhav said that to cool the body during extreme heat, the heart has to work harder and beat faster so that more blood can be directed towards the skin for heat dissipation."This places additional stress on an already weakened heart. Many cardiac patients are also on medications such as diuretics, which increase fluid loss and dehydration. Certain blood pressure medicines may blunt the body’s normal response to heat and delay warning symptoms," the expert told HealthandMe.Dehydration further thickens the blood and, combined with increased cardiac workload, can significantly raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and dangerous rhythm disturbances.How To Prevent Heat StrokeDr. Vaibhav stressed the critical need for early recognition of symptoms, especially in vulnerable individuals such as elderly people and cardiac patients, who are much more susceptible to heat-related complications.Simple preventive measures can save lives. These includeavoiding direct sun exposure during peak afternoon hours, maintaining adequate hydration, wearing loose cotton clothing, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, never ignoring early symptoms such as excessive fatigue, dizziness, or confusion.

heatwave: why elderly cardiac patients are more vulnerable to heatstroke?

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