DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My dad\u2019s favorite band is playing at a music festival this summer. I\u2019d love to take him, but he has a heart condition. I know it could be kind of intense. Do you have any tips for making the experience safe for him?<\/p>\n
ANSWER: Festivals can be surprisingly physically demanding. Hours spent standing, walking or dancing can put extra strain on the heart, especially for those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes.<\/p>\n
For people with heart failure, this can lead to shortness of breath or a worsening of symptoms.<\/p>\n
For those with coronary artery disease, in which the major vessels that supply blood to your heart become narrowed or blocked, sudden intense activity can trigger chest pain or even a heart attack.<\/p>\n
Key warning signs of heart distress at festivals include chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, cold sweats, or fainting. These symptoms shouldn\u2019t be ignored. Seek immediate medical help if they occur.<\/p>\n
Noise exposure at outdoor concerts, carnivals and other events can also affect heart health.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because short-term, loud noise can trigger the body\u2019s \u201cfight or flight\u201d response, raising blood pressure and heart rate. Long-term, chronic noise exposure has been shown to increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.<\/p>\n
Overindulging in alcohol, caffeine or salty food poses another serious risk. It can trigger holiday heart syndrome, in which even healthy people develop an irregular heartbeat or atrial fibrillation.<\/p>\n
Alcohol is a direct toxin to the heart muscle and can cause a sudden rise in blood pressure. For those with existing heart conditions, binge drinking can trigger heart failure or even a heart attack.<\/p>\n
Because there\u2019s a link between heart disease and diabetes, people with either condition should plan ahead when attending festivals and other events. It\u2019s important to take medications on time, bring medical identification and carry essential supplies, such as snacks, water and a list of medications.<\/p>\n
Here are more tips for a safe and fun outing:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keep blood sugar stable with healthy food choices to help prevent complications.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Since the venue could be hot and sunny, which may cause you to perspire more, get a head start on hydration by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up the morning of the event \u2014 even before coffee. Everyone in your party should carry a water bottle and keep it filled throughout the day. Stick to water and avoid sugary or alcoholic beverages.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Wear comfortable shoes and regular rest breaks, which are key, especially for those with neuropathy or fatigue.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Stay near the edge of crowds if you have a heart condition or other serious medical issue. Crowded environments can lead to overheating, anxiety or unexpected physical exertion, so choosing a shaded, quieter area can reduce risk, allow quicker access to medical help and an easier way out if needed.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Keep your phone charged in case of emergencies.<\/p>\n
Balance the fun with rest, protect yourself from the sun, pace your activities, and enjoy the experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My dad\u2019s favorite band is playing at a music festival this summer. I\u2019d love to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":835848,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[49,48,84],"class_list":["post-835847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=835847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/835848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=835847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=835847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=835847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}