Tips for Maintaining Your Health in the Heat

Summer is a time for sunshine, vacations, and lots of outdoor fun. For people managing chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis, the warmer months can also bring unique challenges. High temperatures, increased activity, and changing routines can all impact your health and the effectiveness of your treatment plan.

Here’s how to enjoy the season while staying safe and in control of your chronic condition.

Why Summer Can Be Tricky for Chronic Conditions

Warm weather affects the body in a number of ways: it changes how we regulate fluids, can impact blood pressure and circulation, and may interfere with medications or medical devices. Add in travel, irregular meals, and outdoor events, and summer becomes a time when managing a chronic condition requires extra attention.

Diabetes: Watch Your Blood Sugar in the Heat

Heat can affect blood sugar levels and how your body uses insulin. People with diabetes—especially type 1—may be more prone to dehydration and blood sugar fluctuations during hot weather.

Summer Tips for Diabetes:

  • Stay hydrated: Dehydration can raise blood glucose levels and make you feel fatigued. Drink plenty of water even if you’re not thirsty.
  • Protect your medications: Insulin and glucose monitors are sensitive to heat. Keep them cool using insulated pouches or cooler bags.
  • Test more often: Increased activity or heat may cause your blood sugar to drop or spike unexpectedly.
  • Pack snacks: Traveling or being active outdoors can delay meals. Carry healthy snacks to stay balanced.

Heart Disease: Keep Cool and Monitor Symptoms

People with cardiovascular disease need to be cautious in the heat. High temperatures can cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to low blood pressure, dizziness, or fainting. Some heart medications, like diuretics, can increase the risk of dehydration.

Summer Tips for Heart Health:

  • Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat: Exercise early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler.
  • Know your medications: Talk to your doctor about how your prescriptions affect your hydration and heat tolerance.
  • Dress for the weather: Light, breathable clothing helps regulate body temperature and prevents overheating.
  • Listen to your body: If you feel lightheaded, overly fatigued, or short of breath, get to a cool area and rest immediately.

Arthritis: Heat Can Help But Also Hurt

While some people with arthritis feel relief in warm weather, others may experience more swelling or stiffness from increased humidity. Summer activities like walking, gardening, or swimming can benefit joint health, but overdoing it can lead to flare-ups.

Summer Tips for Arthritis:

  • Warm up and cool down: Gentle stretching before and after activity helps reduce joint stress.
  • Swim or water-walk: Water exercises are low-impact and provide natural resistance without stressing the joints.
  • Apply sunscreen generously: Some arthritis medications increase sun sensitivity.
  • Watch inflammation triggers: Processed foods, excess sugar, and alcohol (common in summer BBQs) can contribute to inflammation.

General Summer Wellness Tips for Chronic Conditions

Regardless of your specific diagnosis, a few universal habits can help you stay well in the heat:

  • Check the weather: Plan outings around cooler times of day.
  • Stay cool indoors: Use fans, air conditioning, or visit public spaces like libraries or malls when temps soar.
  • Don’t skip checkups: Summer can be busy, but routine appointments help manage medications and monitor progress.
  • Wear a medical ID: Especially if traveling, a bracelet or tag with your condition and medications can be life-saving in an emergency.

The Healthstar Physicians network offers primary care and specialty services across East Tennessee. Our medical team is part of your community and because of that we are Near You, For You.