Mini Heatwave This Week: There is a... - British Heart Fou...

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Mini Heatwave This Week

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star
β€’34 Replies

There is a mini heatwave predicted for the next few days. In my area temperatures are expected to hit 35C tomorrow and Thursday before dropping to the low 20s on Saturday. It is also expected that overnight temperatures may be as high as 20C! πŸ˜“

Heat can be a problem for many hearties. Dealing with it will depend on individual circumstances. One major issue I had with the heat pre bypass is that with anti-anginals and BP medication your BP can drop enough to cause light-headedness and dizziness. Worth being aware of.

Other things to bear in mind:

i) exercise early and late and avoid the heat of the day

ii) keep well hydrated - water is best - unless on restricted fluids

iii) protect yourself to avoid sunburn and heatstroke, particularly surgical scars under a year old

iv) stick to light meals

v) if your car has air-con use it

Take care and enjoy the week! 🌞

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MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJH
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34 Replies
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Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

Heat definitely is a problem for me - I used to love hot weather but I dread it now. I find keeping an oscillating fan going in every room works well to cool things down, and am now looking into ceiling fans for the living room and bedroom (space savers as no floor room is taken up by a pedestal fan unit).

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

I've bought a hand held fan from a certain large department store. It only cost Β£12.00 but its a great fan & surprisingly quite powerful. Its got 3 settings & is charged up by USB so minimal electricity costs. Plus the handle can be used as a stand so handy for the bedside cabinet. If you're interested pm me so I can give the name of the store. I did my ironing yesterday with it sat on the ironing board & it worked a treat

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toLezzers

Funnily enough, I have one and I'd be happy to bet we bought it at the same department store chain:)

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

Wouldn't be surprised!! Hope you're as pleased with yours as I am with mine 😌

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toLezzers

I do like it although I wish the lead had come a bit longer. I use it most when I'm on the laptop but also with a usb-to-mains adaptor when I'm on the sewing machine. Mine came as a clip-on which I find especially helpful - until I got the oscillating fans I clipped the usb fan to the edge of the bedside table...funny story about that, my husband was pushing me out of the bed in his efforts to get closer to the fan, hence the purchase of the oscillating fan.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

Ooer, my didn't come with a clip nor is there anywhere to attach it, I wonder if it's the same one after all. You could clip it onto the headboard...or even better make him sleep in another room!! πŸ˜‚

Shoshov profile image
Shoshovβ€’ in reply toLezzers

i’d prefer that option🀣

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toLezzers

There were two options to choose from where I bought mine (JL a year or so ago) and I thought the clip the best one for me at the time. I think if I'd tried clipping it to the headboard I'd end waking up to find he'd moved it closer to him in the night. The standing fan at the end of the bed works nicely although now we find we're fighting the cat for best central location. Little blighter likes to plant himself in the one spot bedroom and living room the oscillation provides a constant stream of air if we've got it set to the narrow oscillation path of centre-left-centre-right, and when he does that he makes a better door than window! Looking forward now to the ceiling fans, actually, let's see that darn cat hog the cool once those go up (insert huge wicked grin emoji here).

Speaking of oscillating pedestal fans, the good ones (meaning a bit ouchy-priced but so worth it in the end) can be set for speeds and narrow to wider paths - narrow for a smaller room, wider for a larger one. The one in the living room is usually set for the widest path and the one in the bedroom for the more narrow path. Bliss, really.

The speed options are interesting, the lowest one is anaemic but the middle and highest ones are wonderful for not only moving air to cool things down but also to dry the air a bit - however, I'm still glad I bought the dehumidifiers which are working very, very well to lower the wretched humidity our NE Scottish climate is enduring just now.

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

I have a take out a mortgage fan!! Its got a magnetic remote...that's about all truly I can understand bout it!! Can't get my head round the narrow & wider coverage, isn't the narrow the same as direct? Cos I've got that option also!! "

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toLezzers

In the narrow modes the path is not as wide but it still moves from centre to left, back to centre then to the right then back to centre, then left. It's a matter of degrees with the most narrow setting being 30 degrees and the widest is 80 something (it's listed in the owner guide but on the fan it's marked as a 'sweep illustration').

And then it also has a 'STA' mark, for stationary and that is the direct, straight, no oscillation option we only use to clear the kitchen when he forgets to use the extractor and also forgets he's dropped some bacon in the pan - he's always been bad about being distracted whilst cooking, apparently. One of his uni housemates told me he routinely smoked out the house forgetting he'd set something on the cooker and then wandered off.

We have a rule at our house - 'Victor' does not cook without supervision:)

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

Thank you, I really should read the instructions!! I'd say keep Victor out of the kitchen but 1) he's gonna end up not bring allowed in any room at this rate & 2) whilst it's this hot always better to let someone else cook, just up the house insurance cover!!

Shoshov profile image
Shoshovβ€’ in reply toLezzers

this sounds intriguing. i’ll pm youth is sounds intriguing. i’ll pm you

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toShoshov

Sorry, to take so long in replying, I've been to the beauticians...it took longer than expected!! πŸ˜‚ Yeah, definitely pm me xx

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Starβ€’ in reply toSunnie2day

Check the height carefully with ceiling fans - you don't want tall visitors having a haircut!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toMichaelJH

Good advice!

Alice_Ro profile image
Alice_Ro

Thanks for tips!

As a pregnant hearty living in London (forecast 37c on Thursday!) I'm taking a militant approach to this heatwave.

In addition to above, I'm....

1. Taking regular coolish showers and keeping my hair wet whenever I can.

2. Avoiding the tube in rush hour- like an oven.

3. Seeking out air conditioned public places- malls, cinemas etc.

4. Agreed some working from home for peak days with my lovely manager

5. Wearing really lose clothes - a bit of a struggle with a bump

Does anyone have any other tips?

Stay cool xx

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toAlice_Ro

Keeping your feet immersed in cold water cools down your whole body, bit difficult on the tube though!! πŸ˜‚

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Starβ€’ in reply toLezzers

Fortunately when I commuted I generally could walk to the office (we kept relocating) although I did use the tube for many client visits. On one occasion the tube got stuck for nearly two hours on a very hot day (2003?). I was planning to go out that evening (classic car event) but collapsed into the armchair instead!

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2dayβ€’ in reply toAlice_Ro

Some outdoor shops offer a neck and wrist band 'cool wrap' set - you put them in the freezer overnight then wrap or drape around wrists and neck. I bought mine in the USA but I've seen them in-store and online here, just do a search using the term 'wrist cool wrap' and dozens of options return.

Wonderful things, those, mine came with removable terry 'socks' so the bags didn't freeze to my skin (yikes!). Before I found those I was resorting to the tried and true flannels soaked in cold water then wrung and wrapped - works well but needs refreshing after about a 15 minute bit of heat relief. The cool wraps hold the cool for a few hours depending on the temperature of the room or outdoors.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

I'm a sun lizard and just love being out in good weather. As this is the first taste of hot weather where I live since my HA, I shall be watching carefully how the heat affects me today. At 10.30 it's currently 23 degrees here (feeling like 27) So far so good

Helen_BHF profile image
Helen_BHF

Hi guys - please do take care this week. Ridiculous temperatures!

As always, BHF advice on staying cool and looking after yourselves here: bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

Sillyfroggy profile image
Sillyfroggy

My heart really hates this weather. I shall be hiding indoors, house quite cool as it’s 400 years old with very thick walls!

Lezzers profile image
Lezzersβ€’ in reply toSillyfroggy

We have external insulation on our walls, great for keeping it cool in summer but really warm in the winter. Conservatory is out of bounds though!!

jimmyq profile image
jimmyq

Sunny all week and raining at weekends. Typical!

Worse thing about this Weather is the pesky Flies, for me anyway, Michael. 30 degrees here at the moment. Good advice though!😊

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

If you want a nice cheap fix, put on some thin clothes and go and inspect the frozen food aisles in your local supermarket - you might even pick up a bargain.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I found last night worse than the day. It was so sticky, even with fan going, I could not get to sleep and then only dozed. Feeling quite tired this morning.

β€’ in reply toMichaelJH

I was woken up by thunder and lightening. Went on for ages. Power Cut as well!!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I assumed it was you rehearsing for the gunfight!

What a lovely sleep last night.Didn't hear a peep all night,wonder if it was that lovely bottle of red wine I had.xxx

It was freaky GS lol.....!

You just could be right GS.....ha ha!! 😊

Harrison4 profile image
Harrison4

Hi All

Great tips for hot weather guys thank you, one of the things I do around 10.30 close curtains leaving 6 inch opening and open windows, works very well

Other quick tip open fridge door especially it it’s a tall fridge / freezer and stand in front, bowll of ice cubes in front of the fan. Those of us of a certain age jubbly lollies on wrist moving round arms.

Happy days staying in the cool hottest part of the day πŸ˜ŠπŸ’–πŸ‘

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Thunder and lightning last night but no rain so remained sticky. Just started raining and temperature has dropped but they still predict high twenties this afternoon - high teens fine by me! 😎

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