Sunny day smarts

When temps rise, so does your chance of heart trouble if you're at risk. Suddenly your body has to work harder to maintain its core temp, which can strain the heart and up your risk of heat-related illness. And becoming dehydrated because of excessive sweating or not drinking enough (plus, diuretics are often used as blood pressure meds, making adequate hydration even more challenging) can cause your blood pressure to drop and your heart to beat faster. Here, three biggies for staying heart-healthy in the heat.

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KNOW RED FLAGS

Heat exhaustion: Look for headache; cool, moist skin; dizziness; nausea; or vomiting. If signs of heatstroke appear (fever above 104°F; irrationality or confusion; dry, hot, red skin; rapid, shallow breathing; quick, weak pulse; seizure; or fainting), call 911.