hello as I am new this this heart stuff, and not experienced full summer with said heart stuff and meds, what are people’s tips and tricks for managing in
Interestingly on the news they said to keep windows shut as this lets in hot breeze?????
tips and tricks for the upcoming hot ... - British Heart Fou...
tips and tricks for the upcoming hot weather
83 Replies
•
Hello 
I am feeling really anxious about this heat wave before it has started !
But that is certainly not a tip to get anxious
Keep curtains closed
If you are using a fan they say to freeze a bottle of water and put it in front of your fan this helps cold air come out rather than warm with it been so hot no doubt indoors as well
Get some flannels and freeze them , have one on your forehead as well as the back of your neck
Drink plenty of fluid .......Sorry I stand corrected on this one stay within the guidelines of 2 litres of liquid , if however you are feeling thirsty sucking on a ice cube or crushing some ice maybe with a spot of cordial in it if you like some flavour keeps you feeling refreshed and stops your mouth from getting dry
Soak your feet in cold water
I am sure more will have some great tips which I hope to read as I need as many as I can to x
080311• in reply to
I am travelling to Dorset on Tuesday from Scotland where the weather as been nice but not to warm! So I am a bit concerned about how I will cope but I suppose will just have to wait and see. Hopefully being on the coast it won’t be too bad. Did have heat stroke many years ago when we were living in Botswana and that was very unpleasant and that was in my 20s so would hate to have to cope now! Best wishes Pauline
• in reply to080311
Hello Pauline
So lovely to see your reply
Are you traveling because of what I might think you are ?
I have been thinking about you
Please look after yourself and shall I say stay cool
You should get a nice breeze from the coast x
080311• in reply to
Yes going to complete what he wanted.Just checked in on line though I have paperwork that needs their ok when I am at the airport.
Paul will meet me in Southampton so I will be fine.
I am sorry to read your posts lately and you are really struggling I thought by now you would be feeling more positive.
I know when I was having my 5 year review in June my anxiety went up, not nice! Though lay there having my echo and I swear I could hear Johns voice in my ear saying stop worrying it’s all ok.
The problem with anxiety is that our lives passes us by we don’t live properly. I know that since January when John was taken ill my life sort of stopped and now I am trying to find out what I do next! Maybe after next week I can start to pick up the pieces but who knows. After 52 years it’s difficult to find yourself on your own.
I do read the posts even if I don’t reply as I used to. I really hope you can get your head around what you have been through.
Best wishes Pauline xx
• in reply to080311
O Pauline I feel so much for you I really do
You are doing him so proud he will be smiling down at you and yes I bet he was there when you had your review which I hope all went ok
It will of course be an emotional time and time will be the thing to make this easier
Life of course will never be the same how can it you have lost a part of you but in that lovely mended heart of yours he will always live on in there till you meet again one day
You are in my thoughts x
Wishing you safe travels Pauline x
That’s so kind of you, it’s a journey I wish I wasn’t taking but something that needs to be done. My youngest son daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters plus others will be together to say goodbye. Craig eldest is in Australia so him and our other 3 granddaughters plus our daughter-in-law will say good bye on the beach in Perth. Hope you’re doing ok.
Best wishes Pauline xx
stay in Scotland...
That would be good but afraid I have to go.
• in reply toHeartyJames
Scotland is going to be in the lower 30s , still not great , I’m dreading it
• in reply to
Thanks I’m feeling cooler just thinking about a frozen fannel on the back of my neck. The frozen water sounds good idea, someone today advised to take a bit of the water out beforehand as ice expands!!!
• in reply to
Hello
I hope come Sun Mon and Tues all these tips we are sharing have worked and we are feeling cooler , I am enjoying today feeling some nice fresh air before it starts
Someone I talk to in America has said we have even hit their newspapers about this heatwave we are expecting which says something x
Harrysgran• in reply to
My brother lives in Fresno California and we were there 4 weeks ago when it was 103f but it wasnt a problem at all as they had the AirCon on and all windows closed. Also had an ice making fridge which gave you constant iced water! We will just have to cope with fans and do the best we can to stay cool and hydrated . Hopefully it wont last long as i have covid and thats enough to be coping with right now!
uzininemm• in reply to
Sorry, but I must take issue with your comment about drinking plenty of fluid.
With us living with heart failure, the limit in hot weather is 2 litres (and that was from my heart failure nurse) however I don't know what the limit is in really hot weather!
Anyway I do hope you stay safe and well.
• in reply touzininemm
Hello
No need to take an issue , my mistake for forgetting to mention be careful how much liquid , I could have also included suck on an ice cube if you feel you are wanting to drink to much but yesterday I was answering so many comments been human I forgot
But a gentle reminder when we do is always good x
uzininemm• in reply to
Sorry, I didn't mean it in an argumentative way. 🤫
• in reply touzininemm
You are ok
I have amended my reply so members hopefully will stay in the limit and you did me a favour as it helped me to remember a couple of more tricks to keep cool as well as stopping our mouths from feeling dry which was sucking ice cubes and crushing some ice to put in our mouths so all is good x
Greenthorn• in reply to
Excellent. I would add, let cold running water fall onto your wrists. Today I have offered to visit someone who is celebrating their 90th birthday. She is unable to go to church tomorrow because of the heat, so I am getting a taxi to her place to play some hymns and some old songs. Hoping the piano is not too honky tonk!
• in reply toGreenthorn
Sounds wonderful I think she will enjoy your visit very much x
Cold water running on the wrists always helps me too Greenthorn, thank you for the reminder. That sounds like a lovely day, hope you both have a great time. I love those old honky-tonk pianos, in fact I've always loved all pianos and have various bits & pieces of them all over the house - I've even got a whole one in the garage which I think the mice have made a home in! (I love them so much I completed a 6-year piano tuning apprenticeship, through the Arts Council, in my late twenties).😀
You have "bits and pieces" of pianos all over your house? I find that fascinating. I will let you know how I get on later. Honky Tonk can work with a good old pub sing song but not with Chopin. 😂
I've been obsessed with old uprights throughout my life Greenthorn ever since Mum & Dad bought me one to have lessons when I was five. I even had a full keyboard I'd removed from one I was renovating up in my Mum's loft. How I ever managed to get it up there I'll never know, as it was almost impossible to get it back down again! (I imagine jolly old Rachmaninoff would sound a bit 'off' on the old honky tonks too - Scott Joplin sounds brill though!) 😂🤣
Cee-Cee1 with you in mind I have posted a piece about an out of tune piano I played this morning. Actually, "play" is the wrong word. "Rung" is better. 😫
LOL 😀
Thanks for the reminder about cold running water on the wrists, I had forgot about that one. I have bought a couple of Cool Scarfs (not very expensive) that have gel crystals in them which you soak in cold water for about 20 minutes, the crystals absorb the water, wipe off excess moisture, tied round my neck has helped me keep cooler as well.
HeartyJames• in reply to
Me too. I was heavy breathing last night , feeling the air was too dry etc.. It was not even hot here but monday night forecast to be twenties most of night and incredibly low humidity. BTW been an amateur meteorologist all my life ... Daytime in Lincolnshire could hit 41C average. That is deadly. So yes I am very worried about it and it is something for everyone to worry about. Blood thickens when we are hot, leading to potential strokes etc. So its so important to stay indoors, hydrate loads, luke warm baths or showers regularly.
Temperatures do drop off abruptly on Wednesday. No one should be travelling on Monday or Tuesday . I am worried that if anything happens the health service will be absolutely over run as already is.
• in reply toHeartyJames
Seems you feel very much like me with the same worries
Hopefully it might not be as bad as we think
Trying to think positive here x
Auiron• in reply to
I'm not sure staying within the guidelines of 2 litres per day is correct in extreme temperatures. Like many, I watch 'Aussie Gold Hunters' where temperatures often vary between 38 degrees and 45 degrees, and they drink far more than 2 litres. youtu.be/Lec8k6q2YXw
• in reply toAuiron
Hello
Never watch this program at all not my cup of tea
Do they have heart conditions ?
Hope you are keeping well x
• in reply toAuiron
Even Catches people out who are used to such temperatures!
• in reply to
😂I carried on watching a bit more and was tad disappointed it was a safety pin!
"what are people’s tips and tricks for managing"
Lose some weight.
Seriously. Before my heart op I was a couple of stones overweight and found hot, humid weather a bit uncomfortable. After getting back to a healthy BMI I really enjoy life in the sun.
• in reply toChappychap
That’s an excellent idea but I don’t think I’ll shift enough weight by the time the really hot weather will start. 😁 anything more immediate I can try?
Chappychap• in reply to
Plan ahead, now's the time to start working on your 2023 beach bod!
Good luck!
I’m trying to lose more weight as been told my BMI still too high - I’ve lost a lot the past year since my crisis , I’d put it on over lock down and because the non diagnosed angina was making me poorly understood exertion and couldn’t exercise - I am normally very fit and getting back there now but it’s hard to lose the weight , my diet is good and unsure I want to start becoming neurotic counting calories etc and not living ! I’ve always weighed a lot , at size 10 I was 9 1/2 stone- I’m size 12 now and 10 4 - I’m putting it down to middle age spread ! But I may buy that bikini ready for next summer !!
After my HA I Lost 2 stone without even knowing. I had changed my diet to a heart healthy one; banned my husband from his pies and fried food, cakes , crisps and biscuits and replaced with white meat, lots of veg, even quorn and oat biscuits for snacks. Not trying to lose weight and had no idea until I got my summer skirts out and they all fell off then my GP noticed and sent me for cancer tests LOL. Clear of course. it was just the change of food.
well done !
MilkfairyHeart Star
To add to BeKind's good advice.
To cool down plunge your hands and wrists in cool water.
Sit with your feet in a bowl of water or paddling pool.
Do everything very slowly especially when walking in the heat.
Use an umbrella ⛱️ to provide shade, wear a hat 👒 and sunglasses 🕶 😎
Pace yourself. Put off any physical tasks that can wait.
If you need to go out, go out in the early morning or later in the day.
I'll be walking my dog, Millie before 11am.
Be mindful that many heart medications in particular nitrates dilate your blood vessels and can drop your blood pressure. The heat also has the same effect.
My Cardiologist advised me to have more salt on my food in very hot weather.
Stay indoors in the coolest place possible.
Drinking plenty of water is important but avoid alcohol as it can cause dehydration.
I live in London so it's going to be super hot 🔥.
I am tempted to do a rain dance.
• in reply toMilkfairy
Hello
O please do that rain dance I will be needing it 
Good luck been in London x
• in reply toMilkfairy
Ta some easy to do tips there, I’m fairly slow at present I get any slower I’ll be going backwards. Take care in the London heat.
Excellent. But I'll do a rain dance with my fingers!
The latest recommendations I've seen is to keep the curtains and windows closed on the side of the house where the sun shines in. Depending on your house layout, having windows open opposite each other will help create airflow through the room. We have ceiling fans, which are great, and we've also bought ourselves neck fans ( you drape them round your neck and they blow air onto your head and neck), they're brilliant!
• in reply toFredders
Yes I heard that too, we get sun in morning at back of lounge and then in front from early afternoon. Have bought a new stand fan and we have some small hand held fans too. Neck fans sound great, it’s in reverse to in winter keeping your neck warm as the thinnest part of your body i guess.
• in reply toFredders
Re windows and curtains closed on the sunny side of the house, that's what we do, windows open on the opposite side. It works to a limited degree, and is certainly better than doing nothing.
Main tip for dealing with very hot sunny weather, stay hydrated with regular top ups of water. And stay out of the sun from late morning to late afternoon if you can. But if you can't wear a hat and light coloured clothes.
HeartyJames• in reply to
need to keep windows closed in daytime. Its really an impossible situation as the air temp will be high day and night. In normal heat spikes you can keep windows open at night and closed in day but it will not work this time due to high night temps..
it will help but the shade temp is to be 41C in eastern England and night temps stay very very high and record breaking
Now that made me really smile.
Right. We can blame you when the weather turns cold for the start of the school hols.
I'll be round with my cozzie on Monday.
Keep windows & curtains shut as it stops outside hot air getting in, half fill a hot water bottle with cold tap water and put it in the freezer. Buy loads of ice pops. I only drink bottled water and always have a couple of bottles in fridge as it’s colder than tap water (Lidl 23p for 2ltr bottle of mineral water) keep hydrated. If you need to go out do it before 10am, most supermarkets are open at 6am so go when it’s much cooler. Remember the heat we tend to get is dry and dehydrates you quicker so carry a bottle of water, walk where the shade is (tree lined roads) if it takes longer to get where you’re going so be it and it’s only a couple of days so don’t worry about it
problem this time 10am will be well over 30C so needs to be 6am. I suggest not going out or any activity on monday or tuesday
I know how to deal with it, try replying to the OP.
• in reply toNeil2566
Thanks for the advice, unfortunately I will need to go out, school run as still open for a couple of days at start of week 🤨 love the hot water bottle idea. And yes water bottles in fridge. Might freeze one (removing bit of water first of course). Actually the hot water bottle I could use to cool down the steering wheel and gear stick because that is always burning.
• in reply to
Hello
We have just read even though I have no children now but Schools round here are closing at the start of the week
Check your area you might not have to do the School run x
I can’t wait. About time we had some nice hot weather. Iv booked Monday off work too so may have a trip to east coast uk, get the trotters dipped in the sea making sure I dodge the cotton buds and plastic bottles of course.??
Plenty of sun block on, nice steady walk up the beach gazing at the graceful seagulls dive bombing me and screaming.!!
I’ll then have a little break and spend a nice five minutes sat down on the sand/gravel untangling 30 meters of discarded fishing line from my ankles while the incoming sea breeze Is gracefully surrounding me with smell of god knows what but it stinks!!!
Yep…… I can’t wait.👍
• in reply toJetcat
🤣 enjoy anyway, hope you get a breeze that might help.
I heard that about keeping windows closed at night if temperature hotter outside warmer than in , which it could be on this heat especially if you have a stone walled house . I don’t seem able to tolerate this heat at all now that summer , cannot walk in without feeling dreadful - why ? Is it anything to do with heart ? I thought I was sorted , so I’m just looking after myself and listening to what my body is telling me , which is .. do nothing !!
• in reply toPuffin1963
Doing nothing can lead to the very best something as Pooh bear would say 😀
These are times you remember walking by a portable aircon unit on sale in the January sales not even giving hot weather a single thought.???I’ll be buying one this coming January even if I only use it for one week of the year.?😂
Hello, I have lived in Portugal for quite a long time now, so hot weather is normal in summer here. Southern Europeans are more concerned with the forest fires and lack of water than the high temperatures. We currently have a drought affecting more than 80 percent of the country. I have been surprised by how much the Southern Europeans dislike the sun, so while we all want a couple of weeks' holiday in the sun, they are avoiding it.The top tips I have learnt are to drink plenty of water. I have concentrated fruit juice with mine, and always have a glass in the fridge to sip at any time.It is good to have windows open and try to get a good through draft working. I keep my windows open, but the blinds down to keep the air moving, but the sun out. I also rest after I have taken my dog out for a walk, and take it easy.Try not to worry about the heatwave hitting the UK, it will be short lived, whereas we have 2-3-months of it, and really look forward to September. Take care, it's not as bad as it appears to be on the news
• in reply toTavired
Thank you, for me two weeks in the sun would be hell, I never understand why people spend thousands to go lounge by a pool baking in the sun. No doubt there will be unfortunately people suffering whether it’s short term here or a part of daily life where you are. Take care
I have already shut my online shops this weekend as do not want to be working on those two days much. Costly thing to do, but has to be done.
Hello fishface: the coping mechanisms during the heat wave are even more important than during the extreme cold of winters. No more lying in the sun tough it can be more tempting. Keep in the shade, drink as much as fluid except alcoholic drinks, move as little as possible because physical exertion makes you perspire more and can lead to dehydration. keep account of weather particularly outside temp. which is at its peak between 4 and5 pm. Use the air conditioning and use of electric fan sensibly. Night time cooling is important because of impotence of sleep. Keep windows open and curtains closed only if it is safe to do so particularly on South facing side. People with cardiac and kidney problems should be extra vigilant. Most of the advice is basically common sense. However all the precautions in babies, children and elderly are more important because the two extremes of age tend to become dehydrated easily. At the moment I am not well because of a respiratory infection and so pardon me if if I am making mistakes here and there.
• in reply tonilmonisikdar40
I didn’t notice any mistakes, thank you for your advice, my kids are not small but I think less activity today is key. We’re not sun bathers so happy to be inside, we will go in garden early evening once garden in shade. Hydration is the key tip I am getting which would do me good to focus on whatever the weather, hope you feel better soon.
Hope you make a speedy recovery. Nothing worse than respiratory infections in hot weather.All the very best. Jan xx
Thank you all for the tips and advice and apologies if did not respond to every one but I have read them all with interest, some things I had not thought of so definitely worth asking about tips and tricks. Wish you all well and keep safe!
Also for clothing… we are all advised to not get sunburn and wear Spf50. As a small advantage I wear rash guard long sleeve shirts (surfers wear them for the same reason) as they are Spf50+ rated
😂😂😂 -xxx
Thank goodness this is just 2 or 3 days we're talking about. Cold flannel in the crook of the elbow helps a lot too!!! All the very best. Jan xxxx
Yes close windows although i have mine open on the side of the house that doesn't get the sun until evening but curtains and blinds are shut. Not wanting dog owner to find them out of stock but what really works for me is a dog's 'cool mat'. They cool down when pressure is put on them. MY dog won't come off hers so I got a second one to put in my bed under the sheet. During the day I sit with my feet on one.
I must add, if you have a dog don't even think of walking it on hot pavements or tarmac. I've seen dogs with huge blisters on their pads. Put your own bare foot on the pavement. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog. They won't harm for missing a few days walks.
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