Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're in the height of summer, so this week on Healthwatch we'll talk about some summer survival strategies. When it comes to dealing with the heat, doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say you may have to consider more than the reading on the thermometer.
Some medications can make you more susceptible to heat. Antihistamines may cause you to sweat less, which limits your ability to cool yourself. Diuretics and some diet pills may lead to dehydration. If you're taking these medications, you may need to be more careful in the heat. You also have to consider humidity. The body cools when sweat evaporates, and high humidity keeps sweat from evaporating.
Dr. Gary Reed, chairman of general internal medicine at UT Southwestern, says high humidity leads to many cases of heat-related illnesses. Fans to keep air circulating may help you beat the heat.
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August 2005
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