Summer in Virginia is off to a great start! As the days heat up, more and more people are spending time outside. A sunny day is a great time to get out on the water, attend a festival, go on a hike, or just spend time with friends in the great outdoors.

But for many, the higher temperatures that summer bring can also mean elevated risks. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke grow more common in the summer months, and have been increasing in recent years. Last year alone, there were more than two thousand excess heat deaths in the United States. And recent data from a multinational data analysis published in Circulation has shown that extreme temperatures coincide with an uptick in excess cardiovascular deaths. Of the cardiovascular deaths examined in the study, an estimated 1 in 500 were attributed to extreme heat (when cold days are factored in, the total number of extreme temperature cardiovascular deaths jumps to 1 in 100).

Those with heart conditions are at greater risk for health complications and cardiovascular death during periods of high heat for several reasons:

• Certain heart medications can change how your body responds to heat.
• Damage from a heart condition can prevent your heart from pumping enough blood throughout your body to get rid of heat.
• Certain cardiac conditions or a history of stroke can decrease your sensitivity to thirst, so you may not realize you are becoming dehydrated.

This year, many parts of the country and the world are experiencing record-setting heat waves, so it is important to stay safe as you have fun in the sun. No matter the state of your heart, here are a few tips to follow:

• Stay hydrated. Try to drink water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. When you are hydrated, your body has an easier time keeping you cool by distributing heat, making you sweat, and cooling your tissues and organs.
• Take it easy! Save your jog or other outdoor workouts for cooler parts of the day like early morning or dusk.
• Find air conditioning. Stay in an air-conditioned area during the hottest parts of the day. Make sure your AC works and is turned on. If you don’t have AC, spend some time in a public place that does.
• Wear comfortable clothing. Dark clothing can absorb heat, and tight-fitting attire will prevent that heat from circulating. On hot days, try choosing a light-colored, breathable, and loose-fitting wardrobe.

Stay safe out there and have a wonderful summer!