Hi everyone
I am on my first holiday abroad since doctors discovered i have HV and had a pacemaker fitted August last year. Im am struggling majorly walking in the hot weather,feel nauseous and get so breathless and panicky too.feel really unwell. So because of this I'm limited to minimal time out staying in shade trying to stay cool. Have bad odema too .I just wondered if everyone with hf is affected? How do you cope with it?
Prior to my bypass last year I was struggling in the heat due to both the CVD and the medications I was on. May I ask which medications you are on?
Hello I'm on ramipril 5mg twice day, bisoprolol 2.5mg once day and flecainide 50mg twice day,furosemide for odema,and omeprazole.
The Ramipril and Bisoprolol are both blood pressure medications. In addition the Furosemide, although a diuretic, also drops BP. Hot weather also opens up the arteries dropping it further. It would be useful, if you have not got one, to get a BP monitor to check . Many be dropped in hit weather and if I exerted myself I could get light headed.
I have a myocardial bridge. Heat affects me badly. I couldn't holiday in the sun - causes breathless and exhaustion. I also feel weak all year round. Life sucks. Stay in the shade as much as you can and drink lots of water
Thanks for your advice ...trying to drink as much as i can.cooler now I'm back in blighty
When you return home you must discuss this with your medical team - there may be something going on and they need to know you had problems whilst on holiday to a warm climate.
Now for the 'been-there/done-that...I don't tolerate heat or heat+humidity well at all, home or abroad. I have rheumatic heart and the heart condition led to two heat strokes whilst living in a hot-humid climate (the strokes were separated by 12 years but you'd think I'd make changes after the first one - no, it took twice and my doctor reading me the riot act).
The key to not experiencing heat (and humidity) heart related problems is to give up putting yourself in places that bring it on - no more sauna or jacuzzi or long hot showers, no more holidays to sun-baked places, no more being out in the garden during a heat wave, and making sure your home kitchen and bathrooms are equipped with an industrial strength exhaust ventilation system. Don't laugh, I have become unwell after hot shower or cooking and doing the washing up in a hot steamy kitchen despite knowing better than to put myself in those situations. My husband and I have recently moved into a downsizer and had a bit of a wait for the venting systems to be fitted before I could get back to cooking, baking, etc. Re the hot shower, I try not to do that at all but sometimes...the super-strength vent helps but only a very little so honestly I do try to not give into temptation as the consequences are downright scary.
For the now - where ever you are on holiday, you need to completely forgo being out of doors or in a hot closed room - get yourself to the air conditioning and stay there until your holiday is over. And then next time you choose a place to holiday, give very serious consideration to going somewhere where it's cold - the fjords are beautiful and cool 365 days a year, for example, and if you're UK based, Scotland north of Edinburgh is usually gorgeous and much cooler than the rest of the UK even at the height of summer.
I am going to discuss this when I next see them in June.this holiday had been booked since last May before I even became ill so I just didn't know what to expect or how things would be for me.safe to say I couldn't enjoy it like I used to. Thankyou for your response and advise though it is much appreciated 😊👍
Heat is not a friend to those with a heart issue. And is dither exasperated if we live in moderate climates that our bodies are accustomed to and suddenly we go on holiday to a hot and humid location. Even when we get unexpected hot weather at home we find our bodies rebelling.
Some things that help are going outside in the morning or late in the day to enjoy a walk or the beauty of the day. If you get over heated soak you feet in cold water and that brings an almost immediate dropping of the body temperature and feels so good. Wear a hat with a broad rim and has a sweatband liner. Walk on the shady side of the street. You can buy cooling towels that also are a tremendous help. You can find a variety of them on Amazon. Our military uses them in places like the Middle East. Don’t over due and if you find yourself getting dizzy or nauseated let someone know. Drink lots of water. It’s very important to stay hydrated. Sport drinks like gator aid are also good to drink in that they have electrolytes that your body needs whether your in hot weather. Buy a small fan to cool you off. They gave small battery operated ones as well as inexpensive plug in ones on Amazon as well. Know you limits and don’t push yourself-we all struggle with understanding our “new normal”. We must recognize we have a second chance but we will need to make adjustments in our lifestyles to make it the best second chance.
Hope these tips help-it comes from first hand experience.
Yours from Across The Pond
That explains why I felt so awful yesterday after getting into a hot car for only 5 minutes. I've never coped with the heat but since the heart attack it makes me feel totally drained and weak as a kitten. I then only spent 10 minutes sauntering round the garden spreading fertiliser and had to go in and lie down
Thankyou not2worry
I hear all the great advise,it's just a pity the cardiac team didn't pre-warn me of how I could feel.youre so right in that we all have to get used to a 'new normal as difficult as that is we have to.i took some precautions after I'd sat in sun for 2 hours then wondered why I felt ill/sick as I tried to walk up a steep road in town ....I drank water and sprite,which has electrolytes to help with hydration.now just to get checked out and re-think of where to go that's cooler lol
Heat hurting heart? 
