As temperatures continue to rise across the region, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is reminding community residents who may be taking medication to support their mental health to be extra cautious in summer heat.
According to MiraVista Behavioral Health Center Medical Director, Dr. Kenneth Richmond, “Increased temperatures can affect the impact of medications. It is important for anyone on medications, including those which may be prescribed for a mental health condition, to talk with their health care provider about how extreme temperatures and exposure to sun may change how they feel, cause certain side effects and what they can do during periods of increasingly hot weather to be safe.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,200 people in the United States die from extreme heat every year, with individuals who take medications that affect thermoregulation among those at higher risk.
Dr. Richmond added, “Many people don’t realize that the medications they take to support their mental health may also impact how their body manages heat. Be informed, take precautions, and know the warning signs of heat-related stress such as dizziness, confusion, excessive sweating, blurry vision or skin rashes.”
The CDC has made an Extreme Heat guide available to visitors on its website with tips on staying cool, staying hydrated, identifying individual risk factors and knowing the symptoms associated with overheating and when to seek medical care. Their guide can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/about/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fextreme-heat%2Fabout%2Findex.html or on the MiraVista website at www.miravistabhc.care
MiraVista Behavioral Health Center opened in April of 2021 on the grounds of the former Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, Mass. MiraVista offers psychiatric care services for both adults and adolescents, as well as an array of recovery rehabilitation programs including outpatient services such as substance use individual and group counseling, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), court-ordered services, and outpatient Medication Supported Recovery and Massachusetts Impaired Driving programs.
MiraVista cares for thousands of individuals from across New England. MiraVista’s purpose is to provide effective, inspiring care for those challenged by mental health and substance use so they are empowered to lead fulfilling lives.