BRAZOS COUNTY, Texas — While most Texans know the basic steps of staying safe in the heat, wearing sunscreen and sunglasses, there’s one more thing pharmacists want people to be aware of.
If you are feeling more prone to heat exhaustion, the items in your medicine cabinet might be the cause.
“The body is formulated and functions to maintain our internal body temperature and some medications throw that off, so it’s very important to be mindful of those medications and take the proper precautions,” Bessem Oden, a local Pharmacist with Goldstar Pharmacy, explained.
With Texas ranking 24th highest in states with high blood pressure, many people need to take a look at their medications and how they affect them.
“Certain medications that regulate blood pressure also throw off our internal body temperature, so that can make us more photosensitive or sensitive to the sunlight,” said Oben.
There are other common medications that can also change a person’s body temperature.
“Diuretics, water pills and other groups of medication like beta blockers," Oben continued. "You have things like antihistamines that are for allergies.”
To prevent heat illness, Oben says to trust the advice of your pharmacist and always ask questions.
“Talk to your pharmacist especially because they are trained to be able to determine what is the best option for you to take.”
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