Heatwave won’t worsen hypertension – Cardiac society

On Feb 22, 2024

The National President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, Professor Augustine Odili, says the recent climate change resulting in heatwaves during the day and at night, cannot worsen hypertension in peopling battling with the condition.

Odili, a consultant cardiologist, stated that heatwaves could lead to dehydration and other heat-related ailments.

He reiterated that heatwave would not worsen hypertension outcomes.

According to him, the present heatwave has no different impact on people with hypertension than it does on those without the illness.

He explained that contrary to popular belief, heat would not lower high blood pressure, adding that cold weather was more dangerous for people with hypertension.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had advised people to drink more water and stay hydrated, avoid more consumption of alcoholic beverages and caffeinated beverages, reduce intake of food rich in proteins because they increase metabolic activities as fresh foods and fruits are better alternatives, stay indoors between 12 noon and 4:30pm, take a cold bath before going to bed at night, and monitor their blood pressure always, among others.

Odili said, “The issue of heatwave is not necessarily only those with hypertension. Heatwaves can affect anybody and I think that’s the first thing people need to know.

“Heatwave is not likely to worsen hypertension. If anything will worsen hypertension, it will be cold and not heat.

“And it’s important we make it known to people because there is a completely wrong notion about hypertension. So, any little thing that happens in society, they will say it will worsen hypertension.

“There is so much stress in the country, everywhere is hot, and there is no power supply. Now, people will say that if you are hypertensive and there is a heatwave, you are in trouble, it’s not true.

“What happens with the heatwave is that, yes, it’s quite hot and people are likely to sweat more than before, and then it can cause dehydration, but it will not make hypertension worse.

“But if we have a serious winter, if somebody is not taking his antihypertensive medication and he has a serious cold, the blood pressure would go up more than during the heat period. ”

The cardiologist pointed out that people working in the sun and not taking enough water might suffer kidney stones.

The physician stressed the need for people to drink enough water so that their urine will not become concentrated and predisposes them to kidney stones.

He added, “The area that I will even want to talk about is drinking water and avoiding things like kidney stones, especially people who work under the sun.

“People need to drink more water so that their urine will not become concentrated and then predisposing them to kidney stones. So that’s a better argument to put, rather than saying that heatwaves worsen hypertension.”