Certain drugs could make you more vulnerable to health risks in the heat
Health experts have issued a hot weather warning to millions of Brits who take certain medications. These drugs could make you more vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures, proving dangerous.
The Met Office has warned that parts of England and Wales could see temperatures exceeding 30C this week. According to its experts, a combination of high pressure and a southerly airflow will “see temperatures rise for much of England and Wales in the first half of the week”.
Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday and remain “above average” for the rest of the week, they said. While this is welcome news for many Brits looking to enjoy the summer holidays, it can cause health issues for others.
In an update, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) explained that people on specific medications can be at greater risk of heat-related illness. It said: “Medications commonly taken for chronic conditions, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, or drugs used to treat mental health issues (like antipsychotics and common antidepressants like SSRIs), can also alter the body’s ability to cool itself or keep fluids, making people even more susceptible to complications.”
Diuretics are taken for conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and oedema. And beta blockers are used to lower blood pressure and for anxiety.
Figures have shown that a total of 8.6 million patients in England were prescribed antidepressants in 2022-23, with the amount having almost doubled since 2011. The UKHSA continued: “It is important to understand how your medication affects your body’s response to heat and reread any instructions or speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
“In this way, hot weather doesn’t just present a risk of heat-related illness, but can act to worsen existing health conditions, an often overlooked but critical part of why some people may suffer more than others during heatwaves.”
Signs of heat exhaustion
Signs can include:
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Being very thirsty
- Dizziness
- Tiredness or weakness
- Headache
- Excessive sweating
- A high temperature
- Clammy skin, or a change in skin colour
- Fast breathing or heartbeat
- Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
- Irritability (particularly in children)
- Delirium (often in older adults)
To cool someone down
If someone has heat exhaustion, the NHS says you should follow these four steps:
- Move them to a cool place
- Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks
- Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too
You should stay with them until they’re better, which should take around 30 minutes.
However, you should call 999 if you or someone else have signs of heatstroke, including:
- Still being unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids
- A very high temperature
- Hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- A fast heartbeat
- Fast breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion and lack of coordination
- A seizure or fit
- Loss of consciousness
For more information, visit the NHS website here.