TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Triple-digit temperatures are back in southern Arizona, and Pima County is working to prevent as many heat-related deaths as possible.
Health officials said they are seeing a “quiet culprit” show up in the data: common medications that can change how the body reacts to extreme heat.
“We’re really noticing that there’s a medication interaction with how their body’s reacting to heat,” said Betsy Camara with the Pima County Health Department’s Heat Relief and Response team.
The Pima County Health Department said nearly 50 commonly used medications — including antidepressants, prescription painkillers, and blood pressure medications — can interfere with the body’s ability to cool itself.
Officials warn that this can leave people more vulnerable when temperatures climb.
Camara said the department is hearing from residents who didn’t realize their prescriptions could add risk during extreme heat.
“People were like, ‘I had no idea, I’m on this medication,’ or ‘my husband’s on this medication. Let me talk to them about it,’” she said.
She added the issue may be more widespread than initially thought.
“It’s more common than I think we first thought,” Camara said.
With triple-digit heat returning, the department is pushing new outreach aimed at people taking those medications and encouraging them to talk with medical providers about heat safety.
“It’s talking with providers, it’s talking with doctors, it’s talking with primary care physicians,” Camara said.
Officials say the goal is to reach patients in new ways, before heat illness becomes an emergency.
“How can we reach these patients in a different way because we’re not currently reaching them with the messaging?” Camara said.
Health officials also urge residents to recognize heat exhaustion early.
Signs can include thirst, muscle cramps, and nausea. Anyone who needs immediate help should call 911.
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