SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Hot weather can be easy to ignore until your body starts sending louder signals. KSL medical contributor Phil Cowley says the bigger danger is assuming thirst is the only thing to watch.
He says prolonged heat can affect anyone, but it is especially risky when dehydration, medications and early symptoms start stacking up. Here are three practical reminders from his advice.
1. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty
Cowley’s first warning is simple: thirst arrives late. By the time you notice you want water, he says dehydration is already underway.
That matters even more in dry climates, where sweat can evaporate fast enough that people do not realize how much fluid they are losing. In his view, the body can be struggling long before the warning feels obvious.
The takeaway is to drink before you feel behind on fluids, not after you are already dried out. That is especially important during long stretches of summer heat.
2. Check your medications before a heat emergency hits
Cowley says extreme temperatures can hit people with health conditions and medication use especially hard. He pointed to heart problems, swelling and fluid retention as issues that can become worse in prolonged heat.
He also said several common medicines can raise the risk, including ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin, which can be harder on the kidneys when someone is dehydrated. Allergy drugs, certain prescription medications, mental health medicines, SSRIs and hormonal medications may also change how the body handles heat.
Some heart medicines, including amlodipine and nifedipine, may work poorly when temperatures are high. Cowley recommends talking with a doctor or pharmacist before a heat emergency so you know how your medicines may interact with hot weather.
3. Watch for the body’s early warning signs
Heat illness usually starts with smaller signals before it turns severe. Cowley said fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness or feeling “out of it” can mean you have already gone too far.
Swelling is another clue that your body is struggling to regulate itself. In more serious cases, he warned, a person may stop feeling hot even though the danger is getting worse, which can mean the cooling system is beginning to fail.
He also said hot skin that stays hot after leaving the sun is a red flag. If sweating suddenly stops, that is another sign to act quickly because sweating is the body’s main way to cool down.
What to do when heat starts to feel wrong
Cowley’s guidance is less about waiting for an emergency and more about spotting trouble early. If you are drinking water, staying alert and paying attention to medication risks, you have a better chance of avoiding a more serious heat illness.
His message is that extreme heat deserves respect even when people think they are used to it. The body may not be as adapted as the calendar says it should be.
Why these reminders matter in a dry summer
Salt Lake City’s dry heat can make it harder to notice how fast fluids are leaving the body. That is part of why Cowley says people should not rely on thirst alone.
His advice is also a reminder that heat safety is not just about one bottle of water. Medications, existing conditions and small symptoms can all change how dangerous a hot day becomes.
A simple rule to keep in mind
If you feel tired, dizzy, drowsy or suddenly not hot anymore, treat it as a warning rather than a comfort. Cowley says those changes can mean you are moving into real danger.
His bottom line is straightforward: hydrate early, know your medications and act fast when your body starts to feel off.
