What should BP, sugar, asthma patients do in summer

May 8, Kathmandu.In summers, your mouth often gets dry. If you walk a little or climb stairs, you feel tired and weak. Such symptoms are natural due to the increase in temperature in summers. If you are healthy, then these problems seem normal, but do you know that if someone has high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis or asthma, then their problems can increase further in summers.

Due to the increase in temperature in summer, there is a fluctuation in blood pressure. Blood sugar increases rapidly. Joints get swollen and breathing becomes difficult. To deal with this, doctors sometimes change the dosage of medicines.

What problems do BP patients face due to increasing heat?

Increasing heat can cause many problems for BP patients. When the environmental temperature rises, the body tries to vasodilate to keep itself cool. This can lead to low blood pressure.

Problems for BP patients:

Low blood pressure (Hypotension) : Due to sweating in summer, the lack of water and minerals in the body can cause low BP. This can cause problems like dizziness, vertigo and fatigue.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension ): Due to excessive heat, the body has to work harder to deliver blood to all the organs, which can increase BP. The mineral balance of the body can get disturbed due to sweating, which can increase BP.

What problems do diabetic people face due to increased heat?

Heat not only brings changes in the weather, it also affects diabetic patients. Especially when the temperature goes above 35°C, the metabolism inside the body also starts changing. Due to heat, dehydration increases in the body, which affects the sugar level.

Problems for diabetic people:

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): If the body loses water due to sweating, insulin can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, leading to weakness, dizziness, and headache.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Blood sugar level may increase due to loss of electrolytes due to sweating and not having the right dosage of medicines as per the season.

What problems do asthma patients face when the heat increases?

As the heat increases, air quality, humidity and allergen levels can be affected. This can be a trigger point for asthma patients. When the temperature rises above 35°C, the pollutants and allergens present in the air become more active, which can increase inflammation and contraction in the respiratory tract.

Problems for asthma patients:

1. Bronchoconstriction

When humidity increases with heat, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases and the moisture increases. This causes the airways of asthma patients to shrink, which can cause problems like shortness of breath, cough and chest tightness.

2. Effect of allergens and pollutants

In summer, the amount of dust, pollen, ozone and other allergens in the air increases. These are the triggers of asthma and with increased exposure, the chances of an attack increase manifold.

3. Heat induced aspiratory distress

In extreme heat, the body overheats and breathing becomes faster. In asthma patients, this puts stress on the respiratory tract, which can cause a feeling of suffocation.

4. Decreasing effect of inhaler or medicine

Some inhalers need to be stored in a cool place. Improper storage in the heat can reduce the potency of the inhaler.

What problems do arthritis patients face due to increased heat?

Heat has a direct impact on the body's joints. Especially those who are suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory joint diseases. As the weather gets hot, the hydration level, blood circulation and electrolyte balance within the body starts changing. This can affect joint pain, stiffness and swelling.

Problems faced by arthritis patients in summer:

Symptoms may worsen

Heat can trigger inflammation in the body, which can suddenly increase joint swelling and pain. This change is especially seen in rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Dehydration and lack of electrolytes

In summer, essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium are removed from the body through sweat. This can cause muscle cramps, joint stiffness and weakness.

7 important tips for prevention and caution

1. Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration

2. Keep medicines and insulin at the right temperature

3. Keep the body cool

4. Pay attention to your diet

5. Physical activity is important

6. Control humidity and allergies

7. Keep monitoring your health