How avoiding extreme heat can lead to a healthier heart

While extreme heat is not as dangerous as extreme cold — tens of thousands of mainly older people die from cold-related causes every winter, compared with hundreds of deaths during the worst heat waves — it still makes sense to protect yourself against it.

• City dwellers are especially at risk of heat-related health problems, since roads and buildings contain and reflect heat.
• Very hot summers have been shown to provoke a small increase in death rates, mainly from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
• Older people are most vulnerable to heatstroke, but younger people can also succumb. Women are affected more often than men.
• In one study in London in the UK, for every 1°C (1.8°F ) rise in temperature above 20°C (68°F), mortality rates increased by an average of three per cent in men and seven per cent in women aged between 75 and 84.
• People living in cities are especially at risk of heat-related health problems, since roads and buildings contain and reflect heat, creating "heat islands" with temperatures several degrees above those of surrounding areas.

• It is probably unrealistic to consider moving to the countryside, but wherever you are, it is advisable to take precautions.
• Since around a third of the deaths that occur as a result of extreme heat waves are thought to be caused by air pollution, it is also worth taking measures to limit your exposure to traffic and other noxious fumes.

• In hot weather, stay indoors during the part of the day when temperatures are highest, and close the curtains on windows that get full sun.
• When outside, wear a broad-brimmed hat with light-coloured, loose clothing and stay in the shade as much as you can.
• Make use of electric fans if available.
• If you are out in extreme heat, try to go to places with air conditioning, even if this involves no more than a stroll around your local mall.
• Make sure that you drink enough fluid to prevent dehydration. You can tell whether you're drinking enough by the colour of your urine: It should be a pale straw colour at most, but if it is any darker, you need to drink more.