Staying well in a heatwave

The Met Office has issued a Red Heat Warning for parts of Hampshire for the next few days. A Red alert is the highest alert level which means there is a significant risk to life. The UK Health Security Agency have shared advice to 'Beat the heat':

See gov.uk/ukhsa/beat-the-heat for further information.

Medicines That May Affect You in the Heat

Did you know that some medications can make you more at risk in the heat?

When temperatures rise, your body naturally loses more fluid through sweating. However, certain medicines can increase this risk of dehydration or make it harder for your body to stay cool.

Some common medications can impact how your body copes with hot weather:

• Diuretics (‘water tablets’) such as furosemide increase urine production, which can lead to dehydration and low mineral levels.

• Blood pressure medicines (including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers) may reduce your body’s ability to regulate temperature. Some ACE inhibitors can also reduce your sense of thirst.

• Diabetes treatments, including insulin and metformin, can increase dehydration risk or make warning signs harder to notice.

• Antidepressant and Antipsychotic medicines and stimulant medications may raise body temperature and increase sweating leading to dehydration.

More information on this can be found here

It is important that you continue to take any medication as normal, but you should take extra precautions in hot weather and watch out for signs of dehydration.

⚠️ Signs of Dehydration

It’s important to recognise early symptoms, which may include:

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Tiredness

• Confusion

• Dark urine

✅ Staying Safe in Hot Weather

If you begin to feel unwell in the heat:

• Move to a cooler place

• Sip water regularly (don’t gulp large amounts at once)

• Seek medical advice if symptoms don’t improve quickly