In the midst of hot weather in western America, doctors warn anyone taking certain medications to take extra steps to stay cool.
Dr. Vik Bebarta, an emergency physician and toxicologist from the University of Colorado University of Health, said that when temperatures hit the 1990s, more people sought medical care for heat-related illnesses.
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Some patients take certain medications that prevent their bodies from staying cool on hot days.
He said that some cause dehydration, some can elevate the internal temperature of a person’s body, and some prevent perspiration, which is the body’s natural cooling system.
While most drugs that affect the body’s ability to react to heat are prescribed by a physician, others are common over-the-counter medicines.
The effect of drugs on the body’s ability to cope with heat is minimal and is usually neither problematic nor noticeable. However, together with conditions such as altitude, dehydration, and excessive heat, Bebarta said, medicines can tip a person beyond the point of being merely hot.
However, the symptoms can be dangerous.
Seniors are at increased risk of heat-related illness because the body loses its natural ability to keep cool as it ages. However, warm weather can also affect healthy youth and individuals if they engage in intense physical activity in high temperatures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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