In addition, the number of people who suffer from heart attacks increases every day. The risk of heart attack is proliferating for various reasons, such as smoking, high cholesterol, malnutrition, stress and sedentary lifestyles. However, many experts believe that summer heat is a threat to cardiac patients, because if they are overexposed to summer heat, their body temperatures rise and heart attacks may develop. Therefore, experts warn cardiac patients to stay in cool environments and drink more to reduce the effects of summer’s sweltering heat.But how can people protect themselves when the temperature increases? According to cardiologist Recep Gündoğdu from İstanbul’s private Sema Hospital, people should avoid smoking, stress, polluted air and fatty foods when taking into consideration the health of their heart. Gündoğdu noted that hot temperatures are directly related to many diseases. These temperatures may cause cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension or hypertension for any individual, but especially for cardiac patients. Therefore, cardiac patients should be particularly careful during the summer season. Protecting cardiac health is in our own hands, Gündoğdu said and made some suggestions. It is also essential to try and avoid stress and depression to maintain cardiac health, Gündoğdu said, as a stressful life weakens the heart and raises stress hormone levels. Gündoğdu also noted that the risk of death is high among people who suffer from heart attacks.
Indoor and outdoor air pollution can cause a great number of illnesses. Many experts believe that air pollution is one of the most important triggers for arthrosclerosis and heart attacks. Chemical elements which cause air pollution are the leading enemies for our lungs. For this reason, Gündoğdu underlined that people should try not to expose themselves to air pollution. He also mentioned the importance of optimism and its advantages in people’s lives. The risk of heart attack is high for pessimistic people, Gündoğdu pointed out, but people who always think on the positive side of life are healthier than pessimists. “If people do not believe in people and look for evil intentions in everything, they can damage their heart. It is far healthier for your heart if you have an optimistic attitude,” Gündoğdu said.
As we asked Gündoğdu what people can do to protect the health of their heart, Gündoğdu noted that people should always pay attention to their food, emphasizing the significance of regular meals and balanced nutrition. According to Gündoğdu, eating healthily is directly associated to cardiac health. Gündoğdu said he recommended that people suffering from cardiovascular disease should avoid consuming red meat and fatty foods. He gave the same advice to young people who do not want to suffer from these diseases in later life. “People can eat fish and chicken rather than red meat to protect their heart. There are various fish such as salmon, mackerel, sea bass, bluefish or bonito which people can easily choose,” Gündoğdu stated, underlining that people should get acquainted with the Mediterranean kitchen as it is generally associated with light dishes.
If you put on weight around your waistline, it means it is time to start a diet under the supervision of a doctor or dietician, according to many doctors, as you have a greater risk of suffering from a cardiovascular disease. In addition, many doctors believe that losing weight is the first step towards a healthy life.
Early menopause is defined as occurring before the age of 40 and according to Gündoğdu, preventing the onset of early menopause is an important way of protecting women’s cardiac health. Menopause brings many diseases with it, particularly heart attacks. Gündoğdu stated that a 45-minute walk is one of the necessary steps for a healthy heart. “If cardiac patients take a 45-minute walk every day, they will reduce the risk of a heart attack,” Gündoğdu said, underlining that people should avoid activities such as running or climbing stairs quickly, as they cause an increase of adrenalin, giving rise to spasms.
