More than 800,000 people in Scotland are already living with cardiovascular disease as doctors warn popular ‘summer body’ trends could be putting thousands more at unnecessary risk
Doctors are warning that Scotland’s annual rush for a “summer body” could be creating the perfect storm for heart health, as crash diets, intense workouts, dehydration, alcohol and rising temperatures combine to place extra strain on the cardiovascular system.
More than 800,000 people in Scotland are currently living with cardiovascular disease, with 17,444 deaths recorded in 2024, making heart and circulatory conditions one of the country’s leading causes of death.
Despite cardiovascular disease remaining one of Scotland’s biggest public health challenges, experts are warning that many people could be unknowingly placing additional strain on their hearts this summer by combining crash dieting, dehydration, increased alcohol consumption, hot weather and sudden changes to their exercise routines.
Every summer, thousands of people across Scotland attempt to achieve a “summer body” before holidays and special occasions by drastically cutting calories, dramatically increasing exercise, spending longer outdoors and enjoying more social occasions where alcohol is consumed.
While each of these lifestyle changes may appear harmless on its own for most healthy adults, experts say the combination can create what they describe as the “perfect storm” for people living with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, obesity or existing cardiovascular disease, many of whom may not even realise they have an underlying condition.
Olivia Wickens, Associate Medical Director at Panthera Clinic, explains: “People often think they’re doing something positive for their health before a holiday, but it’s the cumulative effect of several sudden lifestyle changes that concerns us.
“We see people drastically cutting calories, dramatically increasing the intensity of their workouts, drinking more alcohol, sleeping less because of social events and spending long days in the hot weather at this time of year. Individually and as occasional changes, these behaviours may seem harmless, but together they create what I would describe as a ‘perfect storm’ for the heart.
“For somebody living with raised cholesterol, high blood pressure or an existing cardiovascular condition, which can develop silently, often without obvious symptoms, the cumulative effect can become much more significant. As a result, this can place unnecessary strain on the heart and increases the risk of cardiovascular complications.
“Although many people are often looking for a ‘quick fix’ solution prior to going on holidays or attending an important social event, it is important to ensure weight loss is done gradually and safely. Heart health is built through small, consistent habits over many months and years.
“Summer should be about enjoying yourself safely, not placing unnecessary strain on your cardiovascular system through extreme lifestyle changes.”
One of the biggest challenges surrounding cardiovascular disease is that many of its risk factors develop without noticeable symptoms.
Around one in three (30%) UK adults have high blood pressure, equivalent to approximately 16 million people, with as many as five million thought to be living with the condition without knowing it. High blood pressure is associated with around half of all heart attacks and strokes, while raised cholesterol also commonly develops silently.
According to the latest figures from the British Heart Foundation, more than 8 million people are currently living with cardiovascular disease, with 169,205 deaths recorded in 2024, 47,257 of them under the age of 75.
Deaths from, and number of people living with cardiovascular disease (2024):
| Region | No. people dying from CVD (2024) | No. people under 75 dying from CVD (2024) | Estimated no. people living with CVD |
| England | 137, 572 | 37,723 | 7 million+ |
| Scotland | 17,444 | 5,195 | 800,000+ |
| Wales | 9,260 | 2,660 | 400,000+ |
| Northern Ireland | 4,416 | 1,330 | 230,000+ |
| UK total | 169,205 | 47,257 | 8 million+ |
In Scotland, more than 800,000 people in Scotland are living with cardiovascular disease, with 17,444 deaths recorded during 2024, including 4,755 people under the age of 75.
7 Summer heart health myths, debunked:
Olivia addressed seven of the most common misconceptions about heart health, explaining why some seemingly harmless habits can place unexpected strain on the cardiovascular system:
Myth: “Hot weather is only dangerous if you get sunburnt.”
Reality: Hot weather doesn’t just make you feel uncomfortable; it makes your heart work harder.
When temperatures rise, the body diverts more blood to the skin to help regulate its temperature; on a hot day, the heart can pump two to four times as much blood per minute as on a cool day. At the same time, sweating depletes fluid, reducing the volume of blood the heart must circulate. For people living with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or raised cholesterol, this additional workload can place extra strain on the cardiovascular system. Heat also widens bloods blood vessels, which can cause blood pressure to fall, bringing dizziness or fainting, particularly for people taking blood-pressure medication.
Myth: “A few drinks in the sunshine won’t affect my heart.”
Reality: Alcohol and hot weather are a risky combination.
Alcohol accelerates dehydration, precisely what the heart doesn’t need in high temperatures. It also affects blood pressure, heart rhythm and sleep quality, all of which are important for maintaining good cardiovascular health.
Myth: “Crash dieting before a holiday is good for my heart.”
Reality: Sustainable weight loss with a balanced diet supports heart health and crash diets can do the opposite.
Many people preparing for holiday dramatically cut calories, skip meals or attempt restrictive “detox” diets to lose weight quickly. Rapid, extreme restriction can deplete electrolytes, such as potassium and magnesium that keep the heart’s rhythm stable and very low-calorie diets have been linked to heart rhythm disturbance. Anyone with a heart condition should take medical advice before attempting any crash diet.
Experts say the concern isn’t healthy weight loss itself, but rapid, unsustainable calorie deficit combined with dehydration, heat and increased exercise, which may leave the body under greater physiological stress.
Myth: “It doesn’t matter when or how I eat while I’m on holiday.”
Reality: Your eating routine changes more than you realise.
Summer often disrupts normal habits. People skip breakfast before flights, eat larger and later evening meals, consume saltier restaurant food, drink more alcohol, all shift the pattern your body is used to. One indulgent meal won’t damage your heart, but weeks of disrupted routine, layered on the other factors here, place additional demands on the cardiovascular system.
Myth: “Flying has no impact on heart health.”
Reality: Travel can put additional strain on the cardiovascular system.
Long journeys and flights can contribute to dehydration, prolonged immobility, disrupted sleep and medication routines. People living with cardiovascular disease should make sure to stay hydrated, limit alcohol and caffeine while travelling, move around regularly on longer flights, continue taking prescribed medication and speak to their healthcare professional before travelling if they have concerns about their condition.
Myth: “If I had heart disease, I’d know about it.”
Reality: Many cardiovascular risk factors develop silently, but it is checkable.
One of the biggest challenges surrounding cardiovascular disease is that many people don’t realise they’re already at risk. Around 16 million UK adults have high blood pressure, and up to five million adults could be living with the condition without knowing it.
Both can be picked up by simple, free checks: in England, everyone aged 40 to 74 is entitled to an NHS Health Check every five years, and pharmacies offer free blood-pressure checks for over-40s with no appointment needed. A five-minute check is a better pre-holiday investment than another week of crash dieting.
Myth: “Getting fit quickly before my holiday is always good for my heart.”
Reality: More exercise isn’t always better, especially if too much, too soon.
Regular physical activity is one of the best things you can do for your heart – being active can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory diseases by up to 35%.
But leaping from a sedentary winter into high-intensity training, particularly in hot weather asks the heart to cope before the body has had time to adapt.
Build up gradually, stay hydrated and allow time for recovery is far more beneficial than trying to get fit fast: fitness gained over months will always beat fitness forced in a fortnight.
Olivia added: “Summer holidays should be about making memories, not creating avoidable health risks.
“It is very important to stay well hydrated, particularly if you’re exercising or travelling, build up your activity levels gradually rather than pushing yourself too hard too quickly, avoid restrictive crash diets in favour of balanced, nutritious meals; and be mindful that alcohol contributes to dehydration, especially in hot weather.
“Most importantly, never ignore warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathlessness, dizziness, fainting or heart palpitations. While many summer activities are perfectly safe, persistent or severe symptoms should always be assessed urgently.”
