Mercy Medical Center doctor: Summer heat and medications

Conversation with a doctor: Summer heat and medications

Updated: 1:40 PM EDT Jul 14, 2024

MEDICAL ALERT, THE HIGH TEMPERATURES COULD IMPACT THE WAY YOUR MEDICATIONS AFFECT YOUR BODY. MERCY MEDICAL CENTER DOCTOR ERNESTINE WHITE JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING WITH MORE GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO WE KNOW THE HEAT IMPACTS SO MUCH, BUT IT ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON THE MEDICATIONS THAT YOU TAKE. SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE A WARNING ON THE BOTTLE. ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE CERTAIN MEDICATIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO HEAT. THAT AFFECTS THE ABILITY FOR YOUR BODY TO, SAY, LOWER ITS TEMPERATURE AND THERMOREGULATE. AND THERE ARE SOME MEDICATIONS THAT PUT YOU AT RISK OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCES, WHICH MAKE YOU MORE PRONE TO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAT STROKE AND HEAT EXHAUSTION. FOR EXAMPLE, BETA BLOCKERS, WHICH IS A COMMON DRUG THAT’S USED TO TREAT HEART CONDITIONS, DIURETICS OR WATER PILLS THAT ARE USED ALSO TO TREAT HYPERTENSION, AND EVEN THINGS LIKE ANTIPSYCHOTICS THAT ARE USED TO TREAT THINGS LIKE SCHIZOPHRENIA. AND, UM, ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS THAT ARE USED TO TREAT THINGS LIKE URINARY INCONTINENCE. SO IF WE’RE TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS SO WE JUST AVOID THE SUN, AVOID GOING OUTSIDE, OR SHOULD WE STOP TAKING THE MEDICATION? I FEEL LIKE THAT’S NOT GOING TO BE YOUR ANSWER. ABSOLUTELY NEVER STOP TAKING YOUR MEDICATIONS. BUT YOU CAN DISCUSS PERHAPS ADJUSTING THE DOSING OR THE TIMING WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN. AND IF YOU DO GO OUTSIDE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS. WE USUALLY SAY AVOID GOING OUT BETWEEN 10 AND 4 IF YOU CAN. WHEN THE SUN’S RAYS ARE HIGHEST AND IF YOU DO GO OUTSIDE, WEAR LONG SLEEVES AND WEAR A BROAD BRIMMED HAT. OR PERHAPS SUNGLASSES THAT PROTECT FROM UV LIGHT. AND OF COURSE, USE SUNSCREENS SOMETHING THAT’S BROAD SPECTRUM THAT WILL PROTECT AGAINST UVA AND UVB RAYS. AND WITH AN SPF OF 30 OR HIGHER. AND MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU’RE OUT IN THE SUN, REAPPLY YOUR SUNSCREEN AT LEAST EVERY TWO HOURS. SO WAS IT. AND DRINK WATER OF COURSE. IS IT MORE SO? THE HEAT ITSELF THAT’S CAUSING THE ISSUE? OR IS IT MORE SO? THE UV RAYS FROM THE SUN OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH? IT IS ACTUALLY EXPOSURE TO THE UV RAYS FROM THE SUN. GOTCHA. SO MAYBE IF YOU USED AN UMBRELLA EVEN WHILE YOU’RE OUT, THAT COULD HELP PROTECT YOU AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT THE MEDICATION ITSELF? BECAUSE WE KNOW IT’S EXTREMELY HOT. SOME PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR MEDICATION IN THEIR CARS. WHICH CAN WE REACH? WELL OVER 100 DEGREES. IS THAT PROBLEMATIC AS WELL? SHOULD YOU STORE THAT IN A COOL PLACE? ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE CERTAIN MEDICATIONS THAT ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE IF THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND THE COMMONEST, OF COURSE, IS INSULIN, WHICH IS USED FOR TREATING DIABETICS AND THINGS LIKE THE EPIPEN THAT PEOPLE USE IF THEY HAVE AN ALLERGIC REACTION. THOSE MEDICATIONS ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE IF THEY’RE EXPOSED TO HEAT AND TO THE SUN. AND SO IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THEY’RE KEPT COOL, REFRIGERATED OR IN A COOLING BAG IN THE CAR. ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR ERNESTINE WRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. YOU ALWAYS K

Conversation with a doctor: Summer heat and medications

Updated: 1:40 PM EDT Jul 14, 2024

If you take medications, you might consider taking precautions before going out in the summer heat. Jenyne Donaldson chats with Dr. Ernestine Wright from Mercy Medical Center about how the sun can impact the effectiveness of your treatment.

If you take medications, you might consider taking precautions before going out in the summer heat.

Jenyne Donaldson chats with Dr. Ernestine Wright from Mercy Medical Center about how the sun can impact the effectiveness of your treatment.

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