How does the summer heat affect your heart health?

Stretches of hot temperatures can bring increased risk for our hearts.

According to the American Heart Association, extreme heat may raise the number of incidents of cardiac arrest—when the heart suddenly stops beating, causing blood flow to the brain and vital organs to halt. This kind of medical emergency can happen without warning, including in young, seemingly healthy people.

Dr. Vivek Goswami, a cardiologist with St. David’s Heart Hospital of Austin, said older individuals are often most at-risk, but noted cardiac arrest can also affect people with a genetic pre-disposition or certain external factors.

“In cases of extreme exercise during heat, dehydration. So, sometimes there could be be an underlying substrate that normally the individual tolerates, but then the dehydration combined with heavy exertion can precipitate this underlying issue,” he said.

Goswami said treatment and prevention efforts often depend on the cause.

He also noted knowing CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) could save someone’s life.

“That can often make the biggest difference,” he said. “Remember, you are more likely to use that on your friends and family than some strangers, so I think it’s a skill that all of us should adapt, because you never know when it will be needed.”