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Heat Wave Brings Special Warning For Those Taking Certain Medications

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A warning from health experts: if you are taking blood pressure medications, it could make you vulnerable to dehydration during the upcoming heat wave.

Many blood pressure prescriptions contain diuretics, designed to remove liquid from the body, according to registered nurse  Jennifer Tapner, executive director of the Watermark at Logan Square, a continuing care retirement community in center city Philadelphia.

"A very common diuretic would be Lasix, or the generic version of Lasix," she notes, "and those are medications that a lot of people with congestive heart failure or different cardiac history  utilize to pull different fluids from their body, to prevent swelling or congestion of the heart."

Especially for those people, she says, make sure more fluids are being taken in, and drink beverages without caffeine, such as water, lemonade, or juice.

In addition, Tapner says, avoid the sun when it is the hottest, between 10am and 2pm.

 

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