This has been a summer of heat wave on both sides of the Atlantic. So, whether it is currently in one or plans to vacation at an unexpectedly hot point, you must know how the high heat affects your heart. Especially, since postmenopausal women often suffer less known cardiovascular attacks known as myocardial ischemic syndromes [MIS].
How does heat affect the heart?
Our bodies like to float around 37 ° C. Activities such as walking, running or walking in 35c+ heat really tax their body to regulate at this temperature. Their blood vessels dilate to direct the blood away from the core to the surface of the body and the sweat glands begin to release water to evaporate and cool it.
But if it sweats too much without rehydration, this decreases its blood volume, which makes blood pressure fall and heart rate increase it by feeling weak or tired. Alternatively, if it is in a very humid environment, sweat has difficulty evaporating in the humid atmosphere. If your body cannot cool off, you have trouble regulating your central temperature, putting additional stress in your heart.
This is especially important in the peri and after menopause because many have vascular concerns with the suffocations. But it is also the time when new heart problems begin to appear. Some traditional symptoms of heart attack in women could easily be discarded as hot weather reactions: feel tied, dizzy or nausea; excess sweating; and experience extreme fatigue or tiredness.
Myocardial ischemic syndromes mainly affect women and, nevertheless, most people have never heard of them. In a study by Yale University of unbelieving heart attacks in women and non -white patients, the emergency doctor and the main author of the study, Dr. Basmah Safdar, said: «For a long time, patients with MINOCA were not completely ignored because the previous literature showed that they did not have a greater risk of morbund or recurring heart attacks, so they were simply not studied.»
As to demonstrate its point, another cardiologist with which I spoke discard them as ‘events’, not cardiac attacks. When I asked if this was due to the fact that «the accepted classification is based on heart attacks how they are presented in men?» He shyly agreed. Even my own head doctor, who has been practicing for more than 30 years, admitted that he had not heard of any fault. Fortunately, as the anecdotal evidence is mounted, cardiologists and researchers with them are defending more research in this area.
They are ladies And what do we know about them?
INOCA
Ischemia with non -obstructive coronary arteries It is a collection of conditions that fall under the umbrella. INOCA may be the result of problems with small blood vessels of the heart, as a condition called Microvascular dysfunction [CMD] That causes Microvascular angina. They can also be caused by spasms in coronary arteries such as vasospastic disorder Coronary artery spasm [CAS] aka VasAspastic/variant angina. It can have inoca and another heart condition such as coronary artery disease at the same time.
Minoca
Myocardial infarction with non -obstructive coronary arteries It is at least double frequent in women because they are more likely to have a heart attack without significant obstructions in their main arteries or experience blockages in smaller arteries. Since smaller blood vessels represent about 90% of women’s coronary tree, microcirculation problems can play a minoca role.
A friend without prior diagnosis of heart problems experienced her minoca for a particularly hot and stressful day: «I initially thought it was a severe panic attack or that I was cursing too much, but then I felt numbness in my jaw, a waterfall of sweat and I could not recover my breathing,» she says. His assistant paramedic, advised a quick blood analysis in the hospital that confirmed that it was his heart, not anxiety.
Takotsubo
Also known as Stress myocardiopathy and Broken heart syndrome, It is often triggered by intense emotional or physical stress. ‘Takotsubo’ comes from the Japanese word for an octopus pot trap because the left ventricle of the heart acquires a similar, suddenly, fans during the attack. This makes heart pumping action less efficient and sometimes fatal. The doctors in Japan noticed that they often succeeded the wives who experienced shock for the death of their partners, thus winning the nickname of ‘broken heart syndrome’. It is more common in postmenopausal women.
One of my colleagues describes that his Takotsubo happened for a moment of severe stress: ‘He knew it was something serious. I felt the sudden pain in my back and shoulders, I stayed out of breath and ended up illuminated in the hospital, » she says. ‘They did all the tests under the sun. All were well except troponin levels. Troponins are proteins with some specific ones that are only found in the heart muscle. If the heart suffers an attack, these proteins are filtered in the bloodstream and, therefore, can be measured with a blood test. High levels of troponin (above the normal range), usually indicate a heart attack or other conditions, such as the anterior minoca example.
Scad
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection It is a tear on the wall of a cardiac artery that can restrict blood flow. It is a common cause of heart attacks in women under 50, mainly because it often happens in pregnancy, but it is believed that hormonal fluctuations participate in cases of more than 40 women. It can also be caused by extreme stress or stress due to excess exercise, especially over high heat.
How do I know if I am at risk?
As always, we recommend that you speak with your own doctor to obtain personal health advice. High heat can put additional stress in the heart, so if you already suffer from heart risks such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, vascular conditions, etc. It must be more vigilant. Keep cold, stay hydrated and have a healthy summer for the heart.
For more information:
International Inoca (A medical association of patients)
SCAD Alliance It is an International Information and Defense Group directed by the patient
Heart It is an international magazine reviewed by pairs of the British Medical Journal and the British Cardiovascular Society.
Alexia Economou is a regular design and culture journalist and TNMA.
Pexels and Unspash images.
Your GP should be your first call to worry about any symptom that is new, inexplicable, unusual for you or get worse. If you think you need medical help at this time, 111 Online you can advise what to do next, or call 999 if it is an emergency, or 911 if you have your headquarters in the United States or Canada.
This publication was posted in Thatsnotmyage.com on August 27, 2025 and written by Alexia Economau.
