Slovak health experts give advice on heat stress and sleep hygiene

Cardiologist Tomáš Skála explains that extreme heat, combined with dehydration, alcohol, lack of sleep, travel or intense midday exercise, can overload the cardiovascular system, especially in seniors and people with hypertension or heart disease. He advises regular fluid intake, limiting alcohol, exercising in cooler morning or evening hours, staying in shade, and monitoring heart rate with wearable devices, while urging anyone with chest pain, severe breathlessness or irregular pulse to seek medical help.

Separately, aromatherapy with lavender is presented as a natural aid for better sleep. The plant’s scent, rich in linalool, can promote relaxation by stimulating brain regions linked to emotion. Experts recommend using lavender essential oil in a diffuser, a bedside sachet, or a warm bath, but note that effects vary between individuals and it should not replace professional treatment for serious sleep disorders.

Both pieces stress that lifestyle adjustments—adequate hydration, reduced alcohol, limiting exposure to heat, and creating a calm bedtime environment—can help protect heart health and improve sleep quality.