Extreme heat can trigger a heart attack or stroke: how to protect yourself
The intense heatwave that has swept across much of Ukraine can pose a serious health risk. When air temperatures reach up to +38 degrees, the risk of cardiovascular complications—including heart attacks and strokes—increases.
Doctors urge people to follow simple safety guidelines on hot days: drink plenty of water, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, limit physical activity, and closely monitor how you feel.
People with chronic heart and vascular diseases should be especially cautious, as high temperatures can significantly increase the strain on the body.
"Extreme heat of 32°C and above places a serious strain on the heart and can have dangerous health consequences—especially for people with cardiovascular diseases. Such heat can worsen heart failure and trigger an acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, high blood pressure, and stroke,” the statement reads.
During a heat wave, sweating increases, and the body cools down more quickly. But this mechanism has a downside: dehydration and blood thickening. This can increase the risk of blood clots and lead to acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction) or a stroke.
Due to dehydration, the body can lose electrolytes—sodium, potassium, and magnesium—which are essential for maintaining stable heart function. An imbalance in these substances can lead to the development of arrhythmias or an increase in the frequency of arrhythmic episodes in people who have already been diagnosed with heart rhythm disorders.
Dehydration activates the sympathetic nervous system, causing the heart to beat faster and requiring more oxygen and resources. In people with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, this increases the risk of a hypertensive crisis, pulmonary edema, heart attack, stroke, and other dangerous conditions.
How to stay safe in the heat:
1. Drink more water. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty—drink regularly, in small amounts. Plain water is best for quenching thirst. It’s best to avoid sugary carbonated drinks and alcohol.
Important: People diagnosed with heart failure should consult their doctor about their daily fluid intake during hot weather.
2. Avoid being in the sun between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When you go outside, try to stay in the shade, wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made of natural fabrics, and wear a hat. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
3. Keep your home cool. Air out the rooms at night and in the morning when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature. During the day, close the windows and draw the curtains. If you use an air conditioner, don’t set the temperature too low right away—lower it gradually.
4. Cool your body. Take a refreshing shower or splash water on your skin to help your body cool down. You can also apply cool compresses to your wrists, neck, forehead, or underarms.
5. Limit physical activity. It’s best to postpone any physical activity until the cooler morning or evening hours.
As emphasized by the Public Health Center, it is important to monitor your condition and respond quickly to symptoms of both overheating or heatstroke (link below) and the early signs of a heart attack or stroke, the risk of which increases in hot weather.
The most common symptoms of a heart attack are:
— chest pain or discomfort;
— pain or discomfort in the arms, left shoulder, or elbows;
— dizziness, loss of consciousness, cold sweat, pale skin;
— more common in women — difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, pain in the back or jaw.
Signs of a stroke:
— sudden numbness or weakness in the muscles of the face or limbs, usually on one side;
— confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech;
— sudden vision problems (in one or both eyes), double vision;
— difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination;
— severe headache.
If you experience any of these symptoms, call an ambulance immediately (103 or 112).
As the Public Health Center has reminded the public, people aged 40 and older can take advantage of the new government program “Health Screening 40+” for the early detection of cardiovascular and other diseases.
The Public Health Center has issued this warning.
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