Cardiologist Can Yücel Karabay warns of heart risks in Turkey's summer heat

Prof. Dr. Can Yücel Karabay, a cardiology specialist at Yeditepe University Hospitals, explained that high summer temperatures increase the workload on the heart and vascular system. The heat causes vessels to dilate and the heart to pump harder, which can be tolerated by healthy individuals but poses serious stress for people with heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, or for older adults.

He advised several practical measures: stay well‑hydrated throughout the day, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., schedule outdoor exercise for early morning or evening, keep meals light, and maintain regular sleep. Patients should not adjust any medication, especially diuretics, without a doctor’s guidance, and should monitor for signs of dehydration, which can develop silently in the elderly.

Karabay emphasized that simple preventive steps can reduce the risk of heat‑related cardiac events during the summer months.