The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that people taking certain medications could be at greater risk of heat-related illness as temperatures are set to soar this week
Fiona Callingham Lifestyle writer
12:07, 11 Aug 2025
The UKHSA has warned that people on certain medications will be more vulnerable to hot weather(Image: Getty)
Brits who take certain medications have been issued a hot weather warning. These drugs could make you more vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures, potentially proving dangerous, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
It comes as the Met Office has cautioned that regions across England and Wales may experience temperatures surpassing 30C during this week. Weather forecasters predict that high pressure systems combined with southerly winds will “see temperatures rise for much of England and Wales in the first half of the week”.
Temperature peaks are anticipated on Tuesday, with readings expected to stay “above average” throughout the remaining days, meteorologists have stated. While this is welcome news for many Brits looking to enjoy the summer holidays, it can cause health issues for others.
The UKHSA outlined that people taking particular medications face heightened risks of heat-related illnesses. The agency stated: “Medications commonly taken for chronic conditions, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, or drugs used to treat mental health issues (like antipsychotics and common antidepressants like SSRIs), can also alter the body’s ability to cool itself or keep fluids, making people even more susceptible to complications.”
Diuretics are taken for conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure and oedema. And beta blockers are used to lower blood pressure and for anxiety.
Recent statistics have revealed that 8.6 million patients in England were prescribed antidepressants during the 2022-23 period, nearly doubling the figure since 2011. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning, saying: “It is important to understand how your medication affects your body’s response to heat and reread any instructions or speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.”
The agency further explained the risks associated with hot weather, saying: “In this way, hot weather doesn’t just present a risk of heat-related illness, but can act to worsen existing health conditions, an often overlooked but critical part of why some people may suffer more than others during heatwaves.”
Temperatures are expected to remain high in the UK this week(Image: Getty)What to do if someone has heat exhaustion
If someone has heat exhaustion, the NHS says you should follow these four steps:
- Move them to a cool place
- Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks
- Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water
- Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too
You should stay with them until they’re better, which should take around 30 minutes.
However, you should call 999 if you or someone else have signs of heatstroke, including:
- Still being unwell after 30 minutes of resting in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids
- A very high temperature
- Hot skin that’s not sweating and might look red (this can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
- A fast heartbeat
- Fast breathing or shortness of breath
- Confusion and lack of coordination
- A seizure or fit
- Loss of consciousness
For more information, visit the NHS website here.