Chronic Disease Management During the Hot Summer Months

If you have a chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or a mental health condition, the summer months bring unique obstacles. Fortunately, you can navigate these challenges by committing to chronic disease management.

Breathe Better Despite Asthma

The summer heat in Northern Nevada can cause your asthma to flare, triggering symptoms while outdoors.

Summertime asthma can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or tightness in your chest. A few reasons you may experience symptoms include:

• Allergens. When summer rolls around, allergens abound. Your asthma symptoms may worsen if you’re allergic to ragweed, grass, or tree pollen, as well as dust mites or mold.
• Exercise. Outdoor activity helps you stay physically fit during the summer. However, remember to pace yourself. Pushing too hard may cause your asthma to flare up.
• Heat. Hot weather can inflame your airway, according to the American Lung Association. This inflammation can worsen your asthma symptoms.
• Pollution. Warmer weather causes pollution to linger. Breathing in these toxins can exacerbate your asthma.

To reduce your risk of summertime asthma issues, monitor your breathing, and take a break if you start to wheeze or feel short of breath. Use your maintenance inhaler as prescribed and always keep a rescue inhaler on hand. Talking with your provider can help determine whether any changes to your treatment routine are necessary during the summer months.

Managing Diabetes in the Heat

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, summer feels hotter if you have diabetes. Specifically, complications associated with diabetes can interfere with sweating, your body’s natural cooling method. Diabetes also causes you to dehydrate faster, and heat can affect your body’s ability to use insulin.

To manage your chronic condition during the warm months, follow these tips:

• Cover your feet. Diabetes can cause you to lose feeling in your feet, a condition known as peripheral neuropathy. Without feeling in your feet, you can get a cut or other injury without knowing it. That wound can get worse and cause serious problems. Wearing shoes can help safeguard against injuries, such as cuts and scrapes.
• Protect your skin. Getting a sunburn raises your blood sugar levels. By wearing a hat and sunscreen, you avoid sunburn and reduce the risk of blood sugar spikes.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, and minimize your intake of caffeine and alcohol, which can cause dehydration and elevate blood sugar levels. Nutrition counseling and diabetes education are good resources if you need further guidance.
• Watch your blood sugar. Check your levels before heading outside, then check again while outdoors and after you return inside. Take action if your levels are not where they should be.

Chronic Disease Management for Your Heart

Hot weather can put extra stress on the heart. Heat forces the strongest muscle in your body to pump extra blood to stay cool. If you have heart disease, the summer months pose additional risks.

Simply having heart disease increases your likelihood of heat-related health conditions. Additionally, heat may affect your heart even more if you take certain heart medications, such as beta-blockers or ace inhibitors.

To manage your chronic heart condition, follow these tips:

• Continue taking medication. No matter the weather, continue taking your heart medication as prescribed. Discuss any concerns about your medication with your provider.
• Keep it cool. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after spending time outside. While outside, wear sunscreen and lightweight clothing and go inside to cool off when possible.
• Take action if you suspect something serious. Hot weather puts you at increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and arrhythmia if you have heart disease. Call 911 if you experience symptoms of these conditions, including chest pain, face drooping, slurred speech, or shortness of breath.

Mental Health Care in the Heat

If you’re living with a mental health condition, care management may be more difficult during the heat of the summer. Your emotions may become unpredictable, you may have trouble controlling your anger, or you may feel unusually stressed or tired.

Drink plenty of water and stay inside when possible to improve your quality of life and manage your emotional wellness during the summer. When the heat affects your mental health, do the following:

• Breathe in. Practicing deep breathing techniques can help reduce stress and anxiety.
• Care for your body. Mental and physical health affect one another. Eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
• Phone a friend. Calling a loved one or mental health professional can help reduce symptoms.
• Stick to the plan. If you’re prescribed medication or participate in counseling or other management programs, follow the plan for better long-term mental health.

Need a helping hand managing your chronic disease? The Chronic Care Management program at Carson Tahoe Health helps with every aspect of your care journey.