Cardiac nurse Angela Hartley, who has over 49,000 followers on TikTok, has shared essential tips for people with heart conditions to stay safe during the UK heatwave, which is expected to peak on Thursday with temperatures reaching 40°C in some areas.
Key Tips for Heart Patients
Hartley, known for her TikTok account @angelahealthyhearties, emphasized the importance of taking it easy. "If you've got a heart condition, listen up. There's some key things you can do this week to stay cool and stay safe and keep your heart safe," she said. Her first tip is to work from home if possible, especially for those who commute on crowded trains or the Tube, which can lead to overheating.
Second, she advises keeping bedding cool by peeling back layers and keeping blinds and curtains closed during the day. Windows should remain shut until about 11pm, when temperatures drop, then opened to let in cooler air with a fan for circulation.
Unconventional Cooling Methods
Hartley suggests putting pyjamas or a T-shirt in the fridge or freezer to wear later—a simple but effective way to cool down quickly. She also stresses the importance of monitoring hydration by checking urine colour, which should be "almost clear." Dark urine indicates dehydration, requiring increased water intake. She advises avoiding caffeine due to its diuretic effect, which can accelerate dehydration.
Managing Blood Pressure
Hot weather can cause blood pressure to drop as blood vessels widen to release heat, posing risks for heart patients. Hartley recommends eating salty snacks like olives to raise blood pressure. "If you do feel a little bit woozy, take your blood pressure. If it is on the low side, have an extra glass of water. Take that blood pressure again. Make sure you're not going up and down quickly, not making sudden rapid postural changes so that you don't get dizzy," she said.
Heatwave Forecast
The Met Office reports that Thursday will be the peak of the heat, with extreme temperatures continuing in eastern areas on Friday and Saturday under Amber warnings. The far southeast will retain warmth longest, with highs around 32°C on Saturday. By Sunday, temperatures could drop by 15°C, with Cardiff at 20°C and London at 26°C. A red weather warning has been extended through Friday for London and parts of southeast England. A Met Office spokesperson stated: "Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to make precautions and adapt their daily routines where possible to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK."
