Heatwave Side Effects: The rising heat and heatwave in many parts of the country is having a serious impact on people’s health. Usually people associate heat only with dehydration or heatstroke, but extreme temperature can prove dangerous for high blood pressure patients also. According to Dr. Praveen Gupta, Chairman of Maringo Asia International Institute of Neuro and Spine (MAIINS), cases of stroke and brain emergencies increase in summer. A major reason for this is uncontrolled blood pressure and lack of water in the body.
In extreme heat, blood vessels dilate to control body temperature. Due to excessive sweating, there is deficiency of water and essential minerals in the body. This can cause blood pressure to become unstable. In some people BP increases suddenly, while in others it falls rapidly. Both situations can be dangerous for the brain.
Due to dehydration, blood starts thickening, which can increase the risk of brain clot and stroke. This risk is higher in patients with high BP. Symptoms like headache, dizziness, confusion and weakness should not be ignored during summer. These may be signs of neurological emergency.
Dr. Praveen Gupta says, “Heatwave affects not only the body but also the mind. High blood pressure and dehydration together can increase the risk of stroke, so special caution is necessary in summers.” Even a little carelessness during the summer season can cause serious health problems. Especially high BP patients should pay special attention to regular monitoring and hydration.
