These two drugs can increase the risk of a heart attack in hot weather

Scientists at the Yale School of Public Health say certain heart medications can increase the likelihood of a heart attack on hot days. They make it difficult to regulate body temperature, which can be a problem for people with cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, research has shown that the risk concerns not only the elderly, over 60, but also much younger.

1. Certain medications, taken by people with cardiovascular disease, can increase the likelihood of a heart attack on hot days. They’re beta blockers and antiplatelet drugs
2. American doctors looked at the registry of 2. 494 cases of people from Augsburg, Germany, who experienced a heart attack during the hot summer months. They tested them for the medications they were taking
3. Younger (25 to 59 years of age) patients, taking beta-blockers and antiplatelet drugs, were more prone to heat-related heart attacks than older patients, according to the study.
4. You can find more such information on the TvoiLokony home page

High temperature during the summer months makes it very difficult for people who suffer from cardiovascular diseases. The comfort of life is increased by specific medications, but, paradoxically, they can increase the risk of a heart attack in hot weather. However, giving up on them in many cases is not the best solution, especially without consulting a doctor.

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What drugs are they talking about? American doctors mention two groups of them: beta-blockers, taken by people with coronary artery disease, and antiplatelet drugs, including acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). A new study found that a large proportion of people suffering from a heart attack are taking these heart medications.

Researchers at the Yale School of Public Health looked at the registry of 2 people. 494 cases of people who experienced a non-fatal heart attack in Augsburg, Germany, during the hot months (May to September) of 2001-2014. Previous studies have shown that exposure to heat or cold increases the likelihood of heart attacks, and calculated that the rate of heat-related heart attacks will increase when the planet warms 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.

The current study looked at the use of medications by patients prior to a heart attack. It found that users of beta-blockers or antiplatelet drugs were more likely to have a heart attack on the hottest days compared to the control days. The use of antiplatelet drugs was associated with a 63% increase in risk, and the use of beta-blockers with a 65% increase. People who took both drugs had about 75 percent. greater risk. People not using these drugs were not at greater risk of a heart attack on hot days.

Younger patients more at risk than older patients

The study does not prove that these drugs caused heart attacks. However, it is an indication that they may have something to do with it. Interestingly, it turned out that it is not the oldest patients who are at risk. When the researchers compared younger patients (25 to 59 years) with older patients (60 to 74 years), they found, as expected, that the younger ones were a healthier group, with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease. However, younger patients taking beta-blockers and antiplatelet drugs were more prone to heat-related heart attacks than older patients, even though older patients had more heart disease.

“We hypothesize that certain medications may make it difficult to regulate body temperature,” said Kai Chen, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology (Environmental Health) at the Yale School of Public Health and the study’s first author. The scientist plans to continue research to gain more knowledge about it. The results so far suggest that, with the progression of climate change, heart attacks may pose a greater threat to some people with cardiovascular disease.