Q: My dad got real dizzy recently when the temperatures were so high, and I’m wondering whether it could be linked to some of the medications he’s taking. Any thoughts?
A: A group that’s been doing a lot of thinking on the subject is the Harvard School of Public Health, which recently released a major study showing that older people experience higher death rates during heat waves and those with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure are especially at risk. The study examined millions of people 65 and older in 135 cities across the country.
Older people with these conditions are probably taking prescriptions to maintain their health. However, during a heat wave those lifesaving medications can cause serious havoc with an already-compromised body.
Here is what’s going on: Your dad’s ability to sweat isn’t as efficient as during his younger days and he’ll be feeling added pressure on his heart since the heart beats faster when it’s hot. Sweating is the body’s natural “air conditioning unit” and if it’s not working well, his body temperature increases sending him down a path towards hyperthermia. If your internal thermostat is out of whack, you might not even realize how hot you really are. Think older people wearing sweaters on a hot day.
Making matters worse are medications that alter the body’s cooling system. For example, drugs such as Lasix, a diuretic that reduces water retention to treat congestive heart failure might cause someone to become dangerously dehydrated in extreme heat. Blood pressure medicines that slow the heart might reduce the heart’s ability to regulate the body’s temperature when it has to overcompensate for the hot weather.
People who take medications for mental illness such as lithium for bipolar disorder face complications during heat waves because lithium is a salt that becomes very concentrated in the body as a person sweats away fluids. This can lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Antidepressants and anti-seizure medications can also interfere with the body’s temperature-regulating system and lead to heat stroke. Other drugs on the heat wave watch list are: Flomax (prostate medication), Benadryl, scopolamine (motion sickness medication), antihistamines and heart medications.
People who are diabetic are at risk of heat complications because high temperatures might result in increased blood sugar. The heat and humidity can also negatively affect how refrigerated insulin is processed in the body. For those who carry insulin pens with them, they should make sure to keep them in insulated containers to keep them cool. High heat and humidity can compromise the reliability of monitors and test strips giving inaccurate readings.
So be sure to look over your father’s medications and read over any warnings related to complications from being in the sun or heat. A good resource to learn whether or not your medication is effected by the heat or places you at greater risk for heat stroke, ask your local pharmacist or go online to www.medlineplus.gov.
On a similar note, last week I talked about steps you can take to keep your older loved one’s safe during a heat wave. Fran Pazur of Mechanicsburg wrote to me with another suggestion: “Bring your parent to your home for the duration of the heat wave.” That way, you can monitor your dad’s health, keep him cool and everyone gains some added socialization.
Sounds like a good plan to me.
Email Linda Rhodes at firstname.lastname@example.org, or visit her website at lindarhodescaregiving.com and click on “Email a Question.”
Keeping your pills cool
- Don’t place medications in your bathroom. The heat and humidity from hot showers might make them ineffective.
- Place medications in front of a fan if you don’t have air conditioning.
- Don’t place medications on windowsills in direct sunlight.
- Don’t place your medications in the trunk of a car or glove compartment, even for the short trip home from the pharmacy.
- Ask your pharmacist if any of the medications you are taking can be negatively affected by the heat or make you more susceptible to heat stroke.