CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As temperatures soar, UVA Health cardiologist Dr. Todd Villines is reminding the community that hot weather can be “a stress test for your heart.” In a conversation on Morning News, Villines offered summer-specific heart health advice, urging people to stay active, but smartly. “You have to be smart about it in the summer…choosing the right time of day to exercise, drinking lots of water, staying hydrated,” he said.
Villines warned that certain signs like dizziness, fatigue, and nausea can indicate heat exhaustion, especially for those with heart conditions or on medications. “Pre-hydration is so important as well to prevent that, and make sure that not only you take lots of water, but you don’t skip meals,” he emphasized. He added that medications like diuretics can increase susceptibility to heat-related illness, making planning and caution even more critical…