Stern warning for individuals who drink alcohol in heatwave with ‘coronary heart assault’ on playing cards
As the UK continues to bask in the heatwave, experts have warned that drinking alcohol can ‘magnify’ the cardiovascular risks of hot weather, causing blood pressure to drop and leaving people feeling dizzy and at risk of collapse
Drinking too much during a heatwave could be lethal (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
The UK – and Europe – is in the midst of a harrowing heat wave, with alarming spikes of temperatures recorded. And although an understandable response would be to head to the fridge and grab an ice cold lager, a doctor has warned this could spell danger.
Heat and alcohol can place a tremendous burden on the heart. In hot weather, people tend to sweat more, leading to a decrease in blood volume due to water loss. Because of this flood vessels near the skin expand to facilitate heat loss as blood circulates throughout the body.
Alcohol exacerbates this effect, causing the blood vessels to dilate even more. This combination results in a drop in blood pressure, forcing the heart to work harder to ensure sufficient oxygen is delivered to the brain and other organs. If the heart can’t keep up with this demand, individuals may experience dizziness and potentially collapse due to insufficient oxygen reaching the brain.
“If there is too little blood and the pump function is not good and you have arrhythmia, you may have a problem in supplying your own heart with blood,” Professor Helmut Seitz at the University of Heidelberg in Germany told the Guardian.
However – it’s not all bad news for those of us who don’t mind a pint now and again.
A chilled pint in the sunshine needn’t pose a problem, but potent spirits and hefty quantities can prove hazardous. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, with research indicating that every 1ml of alcohol prompts the body to generate roughly 10ml of urine.
Should you down a 25ml measure of 40% whisky, that equates to 10ml of alcohol alongside 15ml of water. The 10ml of alcohol will trigger the production of 100ml of urine, resulting in a net fluid loss of 85ml.
Beer has a lesser impact. A pint (568ml) of 5% beer holds approximately 28ml of alcohol, which triggers around 280ml of urine, yet the body still gains roughly 260ml of water.
“You’re better off with that pint of beer, you are more hydrated than you would be if you didn’t drink it,” said Prof Ron Maughan, an honorary professor at the University of St Andrews who has worked with the British Olympic Association.
