Cat Dancer
MVP
Some medications make it tougher to stand the heat
By Kayla Bunge
of the Times
July 19, 2006
MONROE -- Avoid outdoor activities. Wear cool, loose clothing. Find an air-conditioned space. Drink plenty of water.
Check the label on your medication?
It's a precaution too many people forget about as temperatures climb above the 90-degree mark and even the 100s.
Some medications increase the risk of heat-related illness by interfering with the body's natural means of keeping cool -- sweating -- and if a person is in the sun for too long, the result could be life-threatening.
When a person is too hot, their blood vessels expand to draw the excess heat to the skin's surface, and they will begin to sweat. As the sweat evaporates, the excess heat is removed and the body is cooler. When the air around a person is humid, it already contains water vapor, and sweat cannot evaporate and cool the body as efficiently. Also, as sweat evaporates, it leaves salts behind on the skin. The loss of large amounts of salt and water from a person's body can quickly dehydrate them.
Some medications interfere with the body's autonomic nervous system -- the "auto pilot nervous system" -- which controls and maintains normal internal functions, like sweating, Dr. Thomas Yettman, chief medical officer at Monroe Clinic, said.
"Anything that affects their (the neurotransmitters in the nervous system) ability to do its job can interfere with sweating," Yettman said.
There are a large variety of medications that can interfere with the body's ability to sweat and cause a person to overheat, said Dave Grinder, director of pharmacy at Monroe Clinic Pharmacy.
Drugs used to treat depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, overactive bladder, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramps and tension headaches all carry a risk of heat-related illness.
Other medications, including many diuretics and antihistamines also can increase the risk of heat-related illness.
In bouts of excessive heat or humidity, everyone needs to be careful, especially those taking medications that put them at a higher risk for things like heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
"In general, people in hot weather like this need to be aware of how they're feeling, how their body is reacting," Yettman said. "Don't ignore the warning signs."
There are simple things people can do to stay cool.
"Make sure they stay well-hydrated. You're body can't sweat without enough fluid in it," Yettman said. "If you are outside, wear a hat. Get wet. Go swimming or take a cool shower."
If at all possible, it is best to remain relatively inactive indoors, particularly if the space is air conditioned, Grinder said.
The hot weather also makes storing medications properly a priority.
"(Drugs) should be stored as near room temperature as possible," Yettman said. "If you have medications in the hot car, for example, it could cause them to break down quicker."
By Kayla Bunge
of the Times
July 19, 2006
MONROE -- Avoid outdoor activities. Wear cool, loose clothing. Find an air-conditioned space. Drink plenty of water.
Check the label on your medication?
It's a precaution too many people forget about as temperatures climb above the 90-degree mark and even the 100s.
Some medications increase the risk of heat-related illness by interfering with the body's natural means of keeping cool -- sweating -- and if a person is in the sun for too long, the result could be life-threatening.
When a person is too hot, their blood vessels expand to draw the excess heat to the skin's surface, and they will begin to sweat. As the sweat evaporates, the excess heat is removed and the body is cooler. When the air around a person is humid, it already contains water vapor, and sweat cannot evaporate and cool the body as efficiently. Also, as sweat evaporates, it leaves salts behind on the skin. The loss of large amounts of salt and water from a person's body can quickly dehydrate them.
Some medications interfere with the body's autonomic nervous system -- the "auto pilot nervous system" -- which controls and maintains normal internal functions, like sweating, Dr. Thomas Yettman, chief medical officer at Monroe Clinic, said.
"Anything that affects their (the neurotransmitters in the nervous system) ability to do its job can interfere with sweating," Yettman said.
There are a large variety of medications that can interfere with the body's ability to sweat and cause a person to overheat, said Dave Grinder, director of pharmacy at Monroe Clinic Pharmacy.
Drugs used to treat depression, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, overactive bladder, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach cramps and tension headaches all carry a risk of heat-related illness.
Other medications, including many diuretics and antihistamines also can increase the risk of heat-related illness.
In bouts of excessive heat or humidity, everyone needs to be careful, especially those taking medications that put them at a higher risk for things like heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
"In general, people in hot weather like this need to be aware of how they're feeling, how their body is reacting," Yettman said. "Don't ignore the warning signs."
There are simple things people can do to stay cool.
"Make sure they stay well-hydrated. You're body can't sweat without enough fluid in it," Yettman said. "If you are outside, wear a hat. Get wet. Go swimming or take a cool shower."
If at all possible, it is best to remain relatively inactive indoors, particularly if the space is air conditioned, Grinder said.
The hot weather also makes storing medications properly a priority.
"(Drugs) should be stored as near room temperature as possible," Yettman said. "If you have medications in the hot car, for example, it could cause them to break down quicker."
