Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Internal Diseases Specialist Dr. Engin Sennaroğlu stated that hypertension, one of the important health problems of today which is often named as the ‘silent killer’ can cause serious problems such as brain hemorrhage, heart attacks and kidney failures if not controlled.

Sennaroğlu, explained the important points which hypertension patients should be aware of during summer and gave the following reminders;

• Avoid the sun; During the summer season avoid being outdoors between 10.00 – 15.00 when UV rays are the strongest.
• Exercise in the evening: Exercise in the evening 2 hours after eating. Loss of fluid due to sweating while exercising in hot weather conditions can cause low blood pressure.
• Quit smoking: Smoking decreases the efficiency of the required anti-oxidant substances in the body and affects the flexibilty of veins . In addition, smoking and alcohol intake together can cause high blood pressure.
• Avoid tea and coffee: You should avoid coffee and tea which contains caffeine as much as possible, especially during summer due to its diuretic effects. You can drink 1-2 cups of tea and 1 cup of coffee a day but more than this amount can cause negative effects.
• Never forget to drink water: You should consume at least 8 glasses (2 liters) of water per day. Your body begins to sweat to avoid being affected negatively in extreme hot temperatures. Increased fluid loss in the body can lead to severe low blood pressure in hypertensive patients due to the effects of the use of diuretic medications. As a result serious problems such as fainting and renal dysfunction may develop.
• Be careful of hot-cold showers: Cold water shrinks and narrows the veins, resulting in increased blood pressure. If your blood pressure is under control and if you use your medication regularly, it is ok to take a shower with cold water, but if you have uncontrolled blood pressure, we do not recommend it because it will increase your blood pressure values even further. In addition, if you do not take enough fluid and have a hot shower, your blood pressure values may decrease too much.
• Take care of your diet: During the summer, we recommend you to eat fiber foods which are easy to digest such as wheat and oat bread, fruits and green leafy vegetables. Preferring vegetable protein instead of animal protein will be beneficial for both blood pressure control and intestinal health.
• Do not forget to get a check up: Due to vacations during the summer, check ups may be delayed. If you are taking multiple medications including diuretics, or if you have a blood pressure related to kidney problems or other chronic illnesses, you should visit your doctor every month.