By Jenna Lebovits
Each summer, a flock of New Yorkers heads east in search of the season’s best: clean, salty air, sandy dunes, delicious farm-fresh produce and a slower pace. The Hamptons, in its high summer glory, is total paradise—a time when everybody is spending more time outdoors, moving their bodies and soaking up the summer sun. But warmer temperatures can also mean more strain on the body’s most vital organ, the heart.
“I think people underestimate how much extra exertion they may be under as they get out, take advantage of the summer and the good weather, and enjoy themselves,” cautions Dr. John Patrick Reilly, FACC, MSCAI, chief of cardiology at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, which provides the East End community with convenient, local access to expert cardiovascular care, 24/7.
In the summer months, proper hydration becomes even more important for protecting heart health. “If you get dehydrated, your heart has to increase its rate and output to compensate for that loss of volume,” says Reilly. Staying sufficiently hydrated (on average, about 15.5 cups of water daily for men and 11.5 for women) and consuming water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries and bell peppers, can also help support the body’s innate cooling mechanisms. The cardiologist also advises being mindful of the time of day while exercising, and even recommends avoiding the peak heat hours of noon to 2PM on sweltering days. “Maybe get your exercise in the morning or evening when you’re not battling the heat,” he says.
When it comes to the best heart-healthy diet, there’s no single miracle supplement, but getting your fair share of whole foods and at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, in all four seasons, should do the trick. “I frankly think we’re meant to be vegetarian,” Reilly says. “There’s pretty solid evidence for that.” But he also notes the potential benefits of adopting a Mediterranean-style diet that’s rich in high-protein fish like mackerel, sardines, tuna and salmon, in a coastal environment like the Hamptons.
Beyond the usual basics, like making sure you’re eating well and moving enough (and at the right time), controlling key risk factors, including high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, is critical not just in the summertime, but year-round for long-term heart health. Known as “the silent killer,” high blood pressure usually develops unnoticed. “A lot of people don’t recognize they have it because it doesn’t cause symptoms,” says Reilly.
It’s also no surprise that chronic, unchecked stress levels—an unfortunate truth of modern, fast-paced life—are known to contribute to cardiovascular disease and increase the risk of cardiac events, but it’s not as hopeless as it may sound: “Meditation, focused breathing and yoga can be helpful in reducing hypertension,” he notes. Consistent movement matters, too, whether it’s a daily 20-minute stroll in the park with a friend, or your favorite sculpt class once the weather starts to cool. According to Reilly, it’s never too late to make meaningful shifts. “The important thing,” he says, “is showing up and doing something for your health.” heart.stonybrookmedicine.edu
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