When temperatures rise sharply, blood vessels expand so heat can escape through the skin.
The heart then pumps faster to maintain blood flow and regulate body temperature.
Dr Manish Bansal, Senior Director, Clinical & Preventive Cardiology, Medanta - Gurugram, explains, “When the body is subjected to extreme heat, it tries to cool itself by expanding blood vessels and increasing perspiration.
The heart also has to do more work to maintain circulation and control body temperature.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warns that high temperatures increase stress on the cardiovascular system because the body continuously attempts to cool itself.
Most people think sweating is the body’s only response to heat. In reality, the cardiovascular system immediately goes into adjustment mode.
When temperatures rise sharply, blood vessels expand so heat can escape through the skin. The heart then pumps faster to maintain blood flow and regulate body temperature. This process may sound normal, but during prolonged heat exposure, it becomes physically demanding.
Dr Manish Bansal, Senior Director, Clinical & Preventive Cardiology, Medanta - Gurugram, explains, “When the body is subjected to extreme heat, it tries to cool itself by expanding blood vessels and increasing perspiration. The heart also has to do more work to maintain circulation and control body temperature. This additional work may be responsible for chest pain and irregular heartbeats or worsening pre-existing heart conditions.”
For someone already living with hypertension or coronary artery disease, this extra strain can quietly push the body toward danger. Even healthy individuals may notice pounding heartbeats, unusual fatigue, or breathlessness during extreme heat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warns that high temperatures increase stress on the cardiovascular system because the body continuously attempts to cool itself.
