Drink Water Every Hour for Heart Health

For Your Heart Health, Drink Water Every Hour Assoc. Prof. Süha Çetin, Cardiologist at Istanbul Okan University Hospital, provided important information.

Consume one glass of water every hour

There are factors to consider when exercising in the heat during summer. Particularly in heart and vascular disease patients, a proper approach is needed against the heat and high humidity that develops during summer months. As the intensity of heat rises, blood circulation to the skin increases to reduce body temperature. Our heart has to work harder due to the increase in the amount of blood circulating through the skin. This situation can be well tolerated by people without heart disease, but someone with heart failure may experience serious problems. Therefore, adequate water consumption is recommended for both people with heart disease and healthy individuals. Because in heat, we lose significant amounts of fluid through our skin and respiratory tract. By consuming water, we not only balance the body's lack of fluid, but also restore the salts lost through perspiration that are important for heart health. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are among these important salts. We can easily understand whether our body has sufficient fluid through urine color. If urine is light-colored and abundant, our body has sufficient fluid. If urine is dark and concentrated, it means the amount of fluid in the body has decreased. As a rough guideline, it is recommended to consume one glass of water every hour during hot summer months.

Reduce alcohol and coffee consumption

To minimize our body being affected by the heat, protection from intense sun rays is necessary. It is recommended not to go out in the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon and not to exercise in such conditions. If exercise is to be done in the morning hours and afternoon, having a sports partner can be beneficial for your safety. If midday exercise is unavoidable, it is advised to use a treadmill or stationary bike in a climate-controlled indoor space. At the same time, during months of intense heat, alcohol and coffee consumption should be reduced. These beverages both reduce the amount of water in the body and negatively affect the heart's conduction system. They also prevent our body from performing its own heat control. Another important factor is clothing choice. Light-colored breathable cotton clothing and wearing a hat that also protects against intense sun rays can be beneficial for our health. Finally, people taking blood pressure and heart medication may need to reduce the dosage of their medication under doctor supervision. A drop in blood pressure resulting from fluid loss can be detected. In this context, blood pressure and diuretic medications may be excessive at the usual dose. When attention is paid to these matters mentioned, you can spend a problem-free summer season for your health.