United States: With the increase in the temperature across the United States, the threat and risk linked to heat-related illnesses have also been increasing. Currently, the health authorities have been reporting a surge in issues such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Health experts have mentioned that there are many other factors that can affect the development of heat-related illnesses; however, a recent update by the health experts has also mentioned that some prescription and over-the-counter medications are also responsible for the increase in the risk.
Which are those medications?
Anticholinergic effects can be reported due to some over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants, which shows that these medications can result in inhibiting sweating and impairing temperature regulation. The details regarding the same were shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The experts claim that less sweat can also be dangerous for the body as it is key way to cool down the body.
While addressing the concern, the chair of Emergency Medicine at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – Dr Kerri Layman stated, “Not only do we live in a hot, humid environment, but we live in an allergen-full environment here. So lots of us have taken Benadryl or other antihistamines, and we don’t always realize that they can have anticholinergic effects.”
Individuals under medication regimes such as beta blockers and diuretics for cardiac conditions should exercise heightened vigilance during periods of elevated temperatures.
Beta blockers may, in certain individuals, lower blood pressure — potentially causing vertigo, syncope, and diminished perspiration, as noted by the CDC.
Those on diuretics might encounter a dulled thirst sensation, which could precipitate dehydration, according to the CDC. Additional adverse effects include fainting or falling and an imbalance in electrolytes due to volume depletion, where the body expels more fluids and salts than it retains.
Certain antihypertensive drugs, such as calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors, also present some hazards, as per the CDC.
Calcium channel blockers can occasionally result in decreased blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, and a heightened risk of syncope and falls.
ACE inhibitors can sometimes lead to lowered blood pressure, an increased risk of fainting and falls, and a reduced sense of thirst, potentially causing dehydration.
There are psychiatric medications that can disrupt sweating. Antipsychotics can impair sweating and thermoregulation, SSRIs and SNRIs can heighten sweating, and tricyclic antidepressants can reduce sweating.
Other medications that might lead to heat-related illnesses include — but are not limited to — antianginals, antiplatelet drugs, analgesics (including some over-the-counter pain relievers), stimulants, antibiotics, thyroid replacement drugs, antiretrovirals, and antiseizure medications.
A comprehensive list of medications and their side effects is available on the CDC’s website.
The heat-related illnesses!
The health experts suggest that it is important to lookout the symptoms linked to heat-related illness. In certain cases, heat cramps are the first sign of the heat-related illness but if they are left untreated it may result in heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Heat Cramps
Some Common Symptoms
A person dealing with heat cramps may experience symptoms like:
Painful muscle cramps,
Heavy sweating
Spasms – mostly in legs and abdomen.
To deal with the same, the National Weather Service has asked to give gentle message to the cramping muscles. Along with this, the person should also have sips of water but if they experience nausea stop giving them water. Immediate medical attention must be provided to the individual is the condition worsen or the symptoms last longer than an hour.
Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms linked to heat exhaustion:
Cool, pale, or clammy skin;
Fast, weak pulse;
Fainting;
Heavy sweating;
Weakness or tiredness
Muscle cramps;
Dizziness;
Nausea or vomiting;
Headache.
In this case, the health experts advises the infected person to go in a cool place, should loosen cloth and must apply cool or wet cloths, or the person must sit in a cool bath. Along with this, the person must take sips of water.
Heat Stroke
The experts have outlined that heat strokes are always a matter of medical emergency, and if medical assistance is delayed, it may lead to death. Some of the symptoms experienced by the infected person are:
Fainting or loss of consciousness;
Confusion;
Throbbing headache;
Nausea;
Dizziness;
Hot, red, dry, or damp skin;
Rapid and strong pulse;
Body temperature above 103°F.