[By The SPHP Emergency Services Team]
The heat and humidity have arrived in force the past few weeks in the Capital Region. During periods of extreme heat, it is important for everyone to take extra precautions, but especially infants and young children, older adults, and those with chronic medical conditions.
High heat can be very dangerous for patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That is because the heart has trouble adapting to extreme heat (and extreme cold). Here are some simple tips to help keep you and your heart safe on hot, humid days.
- Stay Inside. If you absolutely must go outside, do so in the morning before temperatures reach their peak.
- Exerting yourself will add more stress to your heart when it is already working hard to keep your body cool.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both beverages have a diuretic effect, which means they could make you dehydrated.
- Stay reasonably hydrated. While patients with CHF are often cautioned not to drink too much water, becoming dehydrated is equally risky. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water that your urine is clear-light yellow. If your urine is the color of tea/beer, you should increase your fluid intake.
- Stay cool. Air conditioning is ideal. A fan can also be helpful to an extent. Try a cool shower or bath, or place a wet cloth or ice pack under your arm or on your neck.
- Eat light. Stick with smaller meals that don’t overload your stomach. Continue to avoid high-sodium foods.
- Take your medications as prescribed.
- Call your cardiologist if experiencing dizziness or excessive fatigue.
- Go to the Emergency Department (ED) if you or a loved one is experiencing confusion, passing out, or vomiting.
For patients with COPD or other respiratory diseases, the high humidity can also be dangerous. In addition to the suggestions above:
- Use your rescue inhaler when feeling shortness of breath, wheezy, chest tightness or having excessive coughing. Check the expiration dates on all your medications as well as dose counters. REMEMBER: if the counter reads “0”, it’s empty even if there’s still a spray when actuated.
- If you find yourself needing your rescue inhaler more often than every 3-4 hours; you have an increase in mucus production; and/or your mucus is no longer white or clear, call your primary care physician (PCP) or pulmonologist.
- If you use oxygen, please make sure you have enough portable tanks on hand in the event of a power outage.
- If you need assistance, contact your PCP, pulmonologist, or go to the nearest urgent care center before going to the Emergency Department.
When every second counts, St. Peter’s Health Partners has top-quality emergency departments and urgent care centers all across the Capital Region. Our emergency departments in Albany and Troy are open 24 hours, seven days a week, offering a wide range of services for emergency care with highly trained staff, diagnostic testing and access to specialists.
For more information, visit us at https://www.sphp.com/for-patients/think-before-you-go. Be well and have a healthy and cool summer!
