As most of us already know, the extreme heat of summer can pose potential health hazards. Beyond those that are already assumed, such as heat stroke, dehydration, heat exhaustion, etc., the heat can also be extremely dangerous to heart health, especially for those who are already at risk for heart problems.

When a person’s body temperature rises above its normal 98.1 degrees Farenheit, the body tries to cool itself down by sweating and dilating blood vessels. Due to the increased blood vessel size, the heart beats at a faster rate and blood pressure is lowered. For those with heart conditions, the faster heart rate may cause serious problems, or even death, if the heart cannot handle the situation. People with heart failure have to be especially careful as well, because the heart may not be able speed up or pump any harder than it already is. As a result, the body would not be cooled down sufficiently, and could reach dangerous temperatures. In addition, many medications taken by those with heart conditions can cause other problems.  For instance, a diuretic, taken to reduce fluid retention, can cause dehydration; and beta-blockers can limit how fast the heart can beat, reducing the body’s ability to cool down.

It is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness, especially for those with heart conditions. Some symptoms include dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, headaches, weakness and fainting. A person with any sort of heart condition or high blood pressure should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms are experienced. More drastically, if a person is experiencing heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness, emergency treatment should be provided immediately. Symptoms may include high body temperature, rapid pulse, nausea, dizziness, throbbing headache, confusion and red, hot, dry skin. Anyone suffering from these symptoms should be cooled off immediately by being moved into the shade or immersed in cool water while waiting for emergency medical assistance to arrive.

The best thing a person with a heart condition can do during hot weather is to avoid overheating. It is recommended to stay inside during the hottest part of the day and seek air conditioning, wear loose, light clothing, limit activity, stay hydrated, and be sure to have someone check on you periodically. While these precautions are of extreme importance for a person with a heart condition, everyone should be careful during the heat of summer, as heat-related illness can affect anyone.

When you think of heart disease in men, usually people think of coronary artery disease (narrowing of the arteries leading to the heart), but coronary artery disease is just one type of heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They can include:

·         Coronary artery disease (including heart attacks)
·         Abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias
·         Heart failure
·         Heart valve disease
·         Congenital heart disease
·         Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy)
·         Pericardial disease
·         Aorta disease and Marfan syndrome
·         Vascular disease (blood vessel disease)

If you have heart disease, a heart-healthy diet begins by paying close attention to what you eat. You can reduce your chance of developing atherosclerosis, the blocked arteries that cause heart disease, with a heart-healthy diet. If the artery-clogging process has already begun, you can slow the rate at which it progresses. While this is very important for everyone at risk for atherosclerosis, it is even more important if you have had a heart attack or a procedure to restore blood flow.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. It is important to learn about your heart to help prevent heart disease. And, if you have heart disease, you can live a healthier, more active life by learning about your disease and treatments and by becoming an active participant in your care.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is atherosclerosis, or hardening, of the arteries that provide vital oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

The heart is an amazing organ. It beats in a steady, even rhythm; about 60 to 100 times each minute (that's about 100,000 times each day!). However, sometimes your heart gets out of rhythm. An irregular or abnormal heartbeat is called an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia (also called a dysrhythmia) can involve a change in the rhythm, producing an uneven heartbeat, or a change in the rate, causing a very slow or very fast heartbeat.

The term "heart failure" can be frightening. It does not mean the heart has "failed" or stopped working. It means the heart does not pump as well as it should.  Heart failure is a major health problem in the U.S., affecting nearly five million Americans. About 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than sixty-five.

Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood-flow through your heart.  Examples of heart valve disease include mitral valve prolapse, aortic stenosis, and mitral valve insufficiency.

Congenital heart disease is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occur before birth. It affects about 8 out of every 1,000 children. Congenital heart defects may produce symptoms at birth, during childhood, and sometimes not until adulthood.

In most cases scientists don't know why they occur. Heredity and genetics may play a role as well as exposure to the fetus during pregnancy to certain viral infections, alcohol, or drugs.

Cardiomyopathies, also called an enlarged heart, are diseases of the heart muscle itself. People with cardiomyopathies have hearts that are abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. As a result, the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened. Without treatment, cardiomyopathies worsen over time and often lead to heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms.

Pericarditis is inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart. It is a rare condition often caused by an infection.

The aorta is the large artery that leaves the heart and provides oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. These diseases and conditions can cause the aorta to dilate (widen) or dissect (tear), increasing the risk for future life-threatening events:

·       Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
·       Hypertension (high blood pressure).
·     Genetic conditions, such as Marfan Syndrome, which causes the aorta to be weakened as it leaves the heart. This can lead to an aneurysm or ripping (dissection) of the aorta. Both can be repaired with surgery if caught early.
·         Connective tissue disorders (that affect the strength of the blood vessel walls) such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, scleroderma, osteogenesis imperfecta, polycystic kidney disease, and Turner's syndrome.
·         Injury.

People with aortic disease should be treated by an experienced team of heart specialists and surgeons.

Your circulatory system is the system of blood vessels that carry blood to every part of your body.  Vascular disease includes any condition that affects your circulatory system. These include diseases of the arteries and blood flow to the brain.

Information provided by Inland Heart Doctors

Most heart attacks start slowly with mild pain or discomfort. Here are the symptoms of heart attack in women:

• Shortness of breath. It may occur with or without chest discomfort.
• Nausea and light-headedness.
• Flu-like symptoms, including chills and cold sweats.
• Heart palpitations.
• Chest discomfort (angina): pain, tightness or pressure in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back.
• Discomfort in other areas, including pain or discomfort in: one or both arms (especially the left arm), the back, between the shoulder blades, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Heartburn or indigestion.
• Extreme fatigue.

Heart disease often occurs along with inflammation. Monitoring any inflammation symptoms you might have is a helpful way to assess your risk of heart attack or stroke. Here are some of the symptoms to look for:

• Elevated levels of CRP, homocysteine, or LDL.
• High blood pressure.
• Insulin resistance or diabetes.
• Joint pain or arthritis.
• Headaches.
• GI distress, bloating, constipation/diarrhea.
• Ulcer/heartburn.
• Food and other allergies/sensitivities.
• Chronic respiratory difficulties, asthma, or bronchitis.
• Dry, itchy skin, rash, psoriasis or eczema.
• Weight gain/obesity.
• Fever or chronic infection.

Other autoimmune diseases
Among the 515 women studied, 95-percent said they knew their symptoms were new or different a month or more before experiencing their heart attack. The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue (70.6-percent), sleep disturbance (47.8-percent), and shortness of breath (42.1-percent).

Surprisingly, fewer than 30% reported having chest pain or discomfort prior to their heart attacks, and 43% reported to have no chest pain during any phase of the attack. Most doctors, however, continue to consider chest pain as the most important heart attack symptom in both women and men.

If you have any questions or concern, you should seek the advice of a heart specialist.

Information provided by Inland Heart Doctors