Cardiologist in Dubai: a GMS guide by Andrei Prikhodko

Andrei Prikhodko — GP, cardiologist

What heat does to the heart

To cool down, the body sends blood to the skin. Skin vessels widen and you start to sweat. The heart has to pump more: a physiology review by Crandall and Wilson notes that under heat stress cardiac output can rise up to twofold. Sweat takes fluid with it, less blood stays in the central circulation, and blood pressure drops.

A healthy heart handles this calmly. A heart with narrowed arteries, a weakened muscle or a rhythm problem finds it harder. In 2026 the American Heart Association (AHA) published a scientific statement on temperature and cardiovascular health. It names heat as one of the triggers of heart attack, stroke, worsening heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The effect can show up within days of a hot spell and last for weeks.

There is no need to fear summer. But it helps to know your blood pressure numbers, understand how your medications work and agree on a plan for the hot months with your doctor ahead of time.

Who in Dubai should be more careful in summer

The AHA singles out older adults, people with heart disease and people who work outdoors. In clinic I would add:

• anyone who has had a heart attack or a stent, or lives with heart failure;
• people taking diuretics or blood pressure medication;
• people who train outdoors, especially after a break or right after moving from a cooler climate.

Dehydration: signs that are easy to miss

Thirst is a late signal, and some medications blunt it. According to the NHS, dark yellow, strong-smelling urine, peeing less often, dizziness, headache, dry mouth and tiredness all point to low fluid. If you notice these, drink small amounts more often, without waiting to feel thirsty.

Heart failure with a fluid limit set by your doctor is a separate case. Do not change that limit yourself. Ask your cardiologist what to do on hot days: the CDC advises clinicians to consider adjusting fluid restrictions in the heat.

Blood pressure pills and diuretics in summer

In 2025 the CDC published guidance for clinicians on heat and medications. Here is what it says about heart drugs:

• diuretics remove fluid and salts, add to dehydration and reduce thirst;
• ACE inhibitors and ARBs lower blood pressure and also blunt thirst; combined with a diuretic, the heat risk adds up;
• beta blockers reduce skin vessel widening and sweating, so the body cools less well;
• calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure and can cause fainting.

The key rule: do not stop your medication on your own. Stopping blood pressure or rhythm drugs abruptly is more dangerous than the heat. The CDC says summer dose changes should be individual, planned by your doctor, with a clear way back to your usual schedule. If your blood pressure runs noticeably lower in the heat and you feel dizzy, measure it at home for a few days (how to do it right is in our article on blood pressure numbers) and bring the readings. We will decide together.

From the heat into air conditioning

Patients often ask whether the jump from the street into an air-conditioned room harms the heart. There is no convincing evidence that the move into a cool room damages the heart. The real issue is different: in the heat your vessels are wide and your fluid is low, so the body handles standing up quickly less well. You may feel dizzy or see dark spots. After sitting for a long time in the heat, get up slowly. If dizziness keeps coming back, it is worth checking your blood pressure and heart rhythm.

Life indoors

In a Dubai summer many people move from home to car to office and back. In the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) national survey for 2024–2025, 59.1% of adults moved less than recommended. The WHO advises adults to get 150–300 minutes of moderate activity a week plus muscle-strengthening exercise on two or more days. That is doable in summer: an early walk before the heat, a treadmill at the gym, steps around a mall. Doing it regularly matters more than doing it hard.

Risk factors in the UAE

The same MOHAP survey found high blood pressure in 25.9% of adults, high cholesterol in 54.2%, elevated blood glucose in 12.5% and obesity in 22.4%; 8.7% smoke.

Age is another feature of the region. In the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events (Gulf RACE, 2007 data), patients had a mean age of 56, compared with 66 in the international GRACE registry. In a study of 461 heart attack patients aged 45 or younger at Dubai government hospitals, the median age was 40 and 98% were men. Among them, 59.7% had high cholesterol, 55.5% smoked and 47.5% had diabetes.

The European prevention guidelines (ESC 2021) suggest assessing cardiovascular risk in men over 40 and in women over 50 or after menopause, even without symptoms. If you smoke, have diabetes or have early heart attacks in the family, I would not put this off. What a heart check includes and in what order is covered in our article on checking your heart. For cholesterol and newer drugs, see this article.

Exercise in the heat and a heart check before training

The European sports cardiology guidelines (ESC 2020) take a different approach by age. Young athletes before competition: a questionnaire, a physical exam and an ECG. People over 35 who are starting or stepping up training: a risk assessment based on age, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes. An exercise stress test is for people with symptoms or high risk. The guidelines do not suggest an echocardiogram for everyone as clearance for sport; it is ordered when there is a reason.

If you train in Dubai, here is what I suggest:

• in summer, move outdoor workouts to early morning or evening;
• drink before, during and after exercise;
• after a move or a break, build up gradually so your body can adapt to the heat;
• stop if you feel chest pain or pressure, unusual breathlessness, skipped beats or dizziness, and see a cardiologist before your next session.

Fainting during exercise is a reason to seek emergency care right away.

When to get urgent help

Seek emergency care right away if:

• chest pain, pressure or burning lasts more than a few minutes or keeps coming back (more in our article on chest pain);
• you are short of breath at rest;
• you have fainted;
• your face suddenly droops, an arm goes weak or your speech changes;
• after heat exposure your body temperature is 39.4 °C or higher, your skin is hot and red, dry or damp, your pulse is fast and strong, or you become confused or pass out. The CDC lists these as signs of heat stroke.

Heavy sweating, cold, pale and clammy skin, a weak pulse, nausea and muscle cramps are signs of heat exhaustion. Move somewhere cool, loosen your clothes and sip water. If you get worse, or you are no better within an hour, get medical help.

What we can do at GMS

I see patients at our clinic in Downtown Dubai, in English and Russian. A cardiologist consultation is AED 750. We go through your symptoms, medications and risk factors and decide which tests you actually need. An ECG is AED 400, an echocardiogram (age 5 and up) is AED 1,100, and 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring is AED 1,100. The ECG and echocardiogram are often done at the same visit as the consultation. Blood tests are taken at the clinic; the cardiac risk profile is AED 350.

If you are training for a triathlon, a marathon or other long endurance events, there is the Athlete Health Check-up at AED 6,200. It includes a cardiologist consultation with a review of your results, an ECG, 24-hour Holter monitoring, an echocardiogram, spirometry, abdominal and arterial ultrasound, and an extended set of blood and urine tests. If you need a CT scan or a hospital stay, the GMS medical concierge takes care of the booking, paperwork and translation, and your GMS doctor continues to look after you. With several insurers we offer direct billing. More about the department is on our cardiology page.

You can book with Andrei Prikhodko, GP, cardiologist, through the form on our website or on WhatsApp.

Sources

• American Heart Association. Nonoptimal Temperature and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement, Circulation (2026)
• Crandall CG, Wilson TE. Human Cardiovascular Responses to Passive Heat Stress, Comprehensive Physiology (2015)
• CDC. Heat and Medications – Guidance for Clinicians (2025)
• CDC. Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses (2024)
• NHS. Dehydration (2023)
• ESC. 2020 ESC Guidelines on sports cardiology and exercise in patients with cardiovascular disease (2020)
• ESC. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (2021)
• MOHAP. National Health and Nutrition Survey 2024–2025 (2026)
• Awad HH et al. Comparison of characteristics, management practices, and outcomes of patients between the Global Registry and the Gulf Registry of Acute Coronary Events, Am J Cardiol (2011)
• Nabhan EB et al. Characteristics and Outcomes of Young ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients in the Dubai Population, Cureus (2025)
• WHO. Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020)

FAQ

Should I stop my blood pressure pills in summer?

No, do not stop them yourself: stopping abruptly is more dangerous than the heat. Diuretics, ACE inhibitors and ARBs do add to dehydration and lower blood pressure in hot weather, so the CDC allows summer dose changes, but only individually and planned by your doctor. If your blood pressure runs lower than usual and you feel dizzy, measure it at home for a few days and show the readings to your cardiologist.

How does heat affect the heart?

To cool down, the body sends blood to the skin, so the heart has to pump more: under heat stress cardiac output can rise up to twofold. Sweat takes fluid with it and blood pressure drops. A healthy heart copes, but in people with heart disease the AHA names heat as one of the triggers of heart attack, stroke and worsening heart failure.

Do I need a heart check before exercising in Dubai?

Under the ESC 2020 guidelines, young athletes need a questionnaire, a physical exam and an ECG before competition, and people over 35 who start or step up training need a cardiovascular risk assessment. An exercise stress test is for those with symptoms or high risk. For endurance training, GMS offers the Athlete Health Check-up at AED 6,200: a cardiologist consultation, an ECG, 24-hour Holter monitoring, an echocardiogram, spirometry, ultrasound and lab tests.

When does heat call for urgent help?

A body temperature of 39.4 °C or higher, hot and red skin, a fast and strong pulse, confusion or passing out are signs of heat stroke, and you should seek emergency care right away. The same goes for chest pain lasting more than a few minutes, shortness of breath at rest and fainting.

How much does a cardiologist consultation cost at GMS?

A cardiologist consultation is AED 750. An ECG is AED 400, an echocardiogram (age 5 and up) is AED 1,100, Holter ECG monitoring for 24 hours is AED 1,100 and the cardiac risk profile is AED 350. The ECG and echocardiogram are often done at the same visit as the consultation.

This article is for information only and does not replace a consultation. If you have symptoms, see a doctor.

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