High blood pressure (HTA) is characterized by excessive pressure in the arteries. “She speeds up the aging heart and arteries. The work of the heart muscle is increased due to the greater pressure to which it is subjected. It will therefore grow, become less efficient and exhaust itself”, describes the French Federation of Cardiology.
Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke. In France, hypertension is the first chronic disease affecting on average 1 in 3 adults according to figures from INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research).
Everyone is susceptible to high blood pressure. However, some risk factors will promote higher blood pressure. Note the age. Indeed, 40% of people with hypertension are 65 and over, and 90% are 85 years old. Patients in overweight and sedentary are also more at risk.
When the good weather arrives and the high temperatures, people prone to hypertension should be extra careful. We review in our slideshow the riskiest behaviors in case of high temperatures.
Heat: the heart put to the test in summer
During the high summer heat, “the body triggers adaptation mechanisms such as sweat“, describes the Health Insurance. When your body temperature exceeds 37 ° C, your body puts into action thermal regulation mechanisms: it begins to sweat and breathing accelerates. The heat is then eliminated via water and water vapor is expelled In addition, the blood vessels on the surface of the skin increase in diameter (vasodilatation) to cool the blood.
Some people remain particularly fragile when temperatures rise in summer. This is the case for hypertensives and people with other heart diseases.
“Under the effect of heat, the skin vessels expand”
Indeed, in summer, your heart is not spared. “Under the effect of heat, the skin vessels dilate and the blood is distributed towards the extremities, alerted the French Federation of Cardiology during the heat wave that occurred in the summer of 2019. heart is then obliged to pump more, increasing the heartbeat 10 to 15 beats per minute more, even at rest”.
It is therefore advisable for hypertensives to consult their doctor in the event of a heat wave. “Indeed, the diureticswhich are often prescribed to them, accentuate the loss of water in the body”, warns the Federation. The European Society of Cardiologists (ESC) specifies that it is important to adapt their treatment hypertension according to seasonal variations in blood pressure.
Hypertension in summer: what should we do?
“When outside temperatures are high, a systolic blood pressure (SBP) below the therapeutic objectives should encourage dosage reduction, especially if the patient presents with symptoms related to overtreatment”, she specifies. It specifies that this adaptation of care “should only be considered if all other possible causes of BP variability have been ruled out”, such as dehydration, weight loss, altered salt or alcohol intake… “without forgetting to ask the patient about the temperature of his home and his clothing”.
It is also essential to adopt good habits such as:
- Stay well hydrated drinking water
- Sleep well
- Enjoying your vacation to move
- Stop smoking
- Meditate
- Pay attention to your diet eating not too salty for example
According to their cardiology experts, a muscle cramp in the arms, legs and stomach should alert you. This symptom usually occurs when you sweat profusely. Also be careful if you notice dryness and redness on your skin. Indeed, a sudden redness may be due to a dilation of the blood vessels of the skin, at the level of the dermis, located under the epidermis.
