“More Good Days, Together” – Mental Health America 2026 | Summer Edition
That Summer Fatigue, Dizziness, and Shortness of Breath? It’s Not Just the Heat.
Heat affects blood sugar, blood pressure, lungs, and medications more than most people realize. Here’s what the science says and what to watch for this summer in Cook County.
You’re drinking more water. You’re being careful about what you eat. You’re staying consistent with your medications. And yet, something feels off. You’re more tired than you expected. Your numbers are fluctuating. Your breathing feels heavier. Your energy crashes earlier in the day.
Summer heat is quietly doing something to your body that most people don’t realize until they’re sitting in an exam room, wondering why their chronic condition feels harder to manage than usual. And for patients living with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, COPD, or asthma, the effect is even more significant.
At Healthonomic Primary Care, we see this pattern every June across our Cook County locations in Orland Park, Evergreen Park, and Palos Heights. This blog is our way of getting ahead of it with you before summer gets harder than it needs to be.
Not sure if your symptoms are heat-related or something else? Your Healthonomic provider can evaluate what’s going on; same-day appointments are available. Book an appointment →
What Summer Actually Does to Your Body
Before we get into specific conditions, let’s understand what’s happening at the basic level when temperatures climb.
In the heat, your body’s top priority shifts to keeping itself cool. Blood vessels near the skin dilate to release heat. Your heart pumps harder and faster. You sweat more, losing fluid and electrolytes. Your kidneys work overtime. Hormones that regulate stress, hunger, and fluid balance are all affected.
For a body that isn’t managing any underlying health conditions, this system handles it reasonably well. But for a body that’s also managing diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or a respiratory condition, the added workload of summer heat creates real physiological ripple effects that show up in your numbers, your energy, and your symptoms.
Here’s where it gets specific.
How Summer Heat Affects Diabetes
If you’re managing diabetes, summer is one of the most important seasons to stay close to your care team, and here’s exactly why.
Blood Sugar Becomes Harder to Predict
High temperatures can change how your body uses insulin. Even when it doesn’t seem very hot outside, the combination of heat and humidity can be dangerous. This is because heat affects how quickly insulin is absorbed into the bloodstream, and not always in a predictable direction.
Heat can dilate blood vessels, which speeds up insulin absorption, potentially causing blood sugar to drop too low, especially if you are physically active on hot days. At the same time, sunburn and dehydration, both more common in summer, can cause blood sugar to rise.
People with diabetes get dehydrated more quickly than others. Not drinking enough liquids raises blood sugar, and high blood sugar makes you urinate more, causing further dehydration, a difficult cycle that can escalate quickly in the heat.
Summer Disrupts Your Routine, Which Disrupts Your Management
Kids out of school, vacations, get-togethers, family reunions, and the summer season can throw off your routine, and possibly your diabetes management plan. Skipped meals, changed meal times, different levels of activity, and disrupted sleep patterns all affect blood sugar stability in ways that can add up over weeks.
Medications and Supplies Are Heat-Sensitive Too
Insulin and certain diabetes supplies can be damaged by heat. Storing medications improperly in a hot car, a hot bag, or a non-climate-controlled space can affect their effectiveness, something many patients don’t think about until it’s too late.
What to discuss with your Healthonomic provider:
- Whether your monitoring frequency should increase during the summer months
- How to adjust your routine around summer schedule changes
- Safe storage for your medications and supplies in warm weather
⚠️ Important: The information above is general and educational. Blood sugar targets, insulin adjustments, and summer management strategies must be individualized by your healthcare provider. Never adjust your medication or insulin without speaking to your provider first.
Sources: CDC , Managing Diabetes in the Heat | Cleveland Clinic , Diabetes and Summer Heat | Healthline , Diabetes and Heat
How Summer Heat Affects Blood Pressure
The relationship between heat and blood pressure is one of the most misunderstood dynamics in summer health, and getting it wrong can be dangerous.
Heat Generally Lowers Blood Pressure, But That Isn’t Always Safe
Here’s something that surprises many patients: blood pressure tends to be lower in summer than in winter because warmer temperatures cause blood vessels to dilate, so your body doesn’t have to work as hard to circulate blood.
So does that mean summer is easier on your blood pressure? Not necessarily, and here’s where it gets important.
When You’re on Blood Pressure Medication, Heat Changes the Equation
Medications and heat can interact, leading to potentially severe side effects. Commonly prescribed medications that increase the risk from heat include diuretics, anticholinergic agents, and some cardiovascular medications.
Heat-related vasodilation can significantly enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of cardiovascular drugs, which might result in blood pressure dropping too low, potentially causing fainting with serious injury risk.
Diuretics, commonly prescribed for patients with hypertension or heart failure, can worsen the effects of heat by inducing dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
In plain terms: if your blood pressure medication is working well in cooler months, the added dilating effect of summer heat may cause your pressure to drop lower than intended. Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting in the heat are warning signs that deserve a conversation with your provider, not just a glass of water.
Some Patients Experience the Opposite, Blood Pressure Spikes
Dehydration, heat-triggered stress hormones, and disrupted sleep from the heat can cause blood pressure instability in some patients. If you notice your readings fluctuating more than usual this summer, up or down, that’s worth flagging at your next visit.
⚠️ Important: Do not stop or adjust your blood pressure medication based on summer readings without speaking to your healthcare provider first. Blood pressure management is highly individualized, and changes must be made under clinical guidance.
Sources: CDC , Heat and Medications Guidance for Clinicians | European Society of Cardiology , Climate Change and Cardiovascular Disease | Mayo Clinic , Blood Pressure and Heat
How Summer Heat Affects Your Heart
For patients with heart disease, summer isn’t just about comfort; it’s about risk management.
Heat can worsen cardiovascular disease. Hot days can also worsen air quality, and breathing polluted air can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and worsen heart failure. Exposure to increased concentrations of fine particulate matter for hours to weeks can trigger cardiac events.
Your heart works harder in the heat to pump blood to the skin’s surface for cooling. For a heart already working harder than it should be due to disease, this added workload matters. The combination of heat, dehydration, air quality, and medication interactions creates a uniquely demanding environment for the cardiovascular system in the summer months.
The CDC recommends that patients with cardiovascular disease check the HeatRisk forecast every day during warm months and take protective action when the risk is orange or higher, and also check the Air Quality Index daily, taking protective action when it exceeds 100.
⚠️ Emergency warning: If you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden dizziness, or any other symptoms of a cardiac event, call 911 immediately. Do not wait to see if it passes. Do not drive yourself. These symptoms in the heat require immediate emergency evaluation.
Source: CDC , Clinical Overview of Heat and Cardiovascular Disease
How Summer Heat Affects COPD and Asthma
If you have COPD or asthma, summer in the Midwest presents a specific combination of challenges, and 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly demanding season.
For COPD Patients
Rising temperatures and humidity can prompt COPD flare-ups. Humid air is dense and contains a higher concentration of water vapor, which makes it more challenging to breathe. Hot temperatures require the body to work harder to stay cool, and that added strain makes breathing symptoms worse, especially during heat waves.
During hot weather, pollutants like ozone and fine particles can become trapped near the ground, creating smog, which can irritate the lungs. For someone with COPD, this can trigger a serious flare-up that requires medical attention.
Dehydration can cause mucus to thicken, which makes breathing more difficult, another reason that summer hydration is especially critical for patients with respiratory conditions.
Warning signs of a COPD flare-up that need medical attention: Increased shortness of breath, as well as increased coughing and sputum. If you notice any of these symptoms and don’t know what to do, or if your symptoms are getting worse, call your doctor. If you can’t reach your doctor, go to the hospital emergency department.
For Asthma Patients
Heat, humidity, and sudden weather changes can trigger heat-induced asthma symptoms by causing airways to narrow and trapping pollutants and allergens. Environmental factors like air pollution, high ozone levels, and smoke from wildfires or outdoor activities exacerbate asthma symptoms during warmer months.
Breathing air with unhealthy ozone levels for as little as one day can trigger asthma attacks. For patients in Cook County, the Chicago area’s urban heat island effect means ozone levels during summer can be particularly elevated on hot, still days.
⚠️ Important: Never adjust or stop your inhaler use, COPD rescue pack, or respiratory medications without speaking to your provider. If you are experiencing severe shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.
Sources: Medscape , Summer Heat and COPD 2025 | CDC , Heat and Asthma | Allergy & Asthma Network , Summer Asthma | Canadian Lung Association
Warning Signs: When to Stop and Call Your Doctor or 911
This summer, pay attention to signs that your body is struggling with the heat, especially if you’re managing a chronic condition. Here are the signals that need action:
Call your Healthonomic provider if you notice:
- Blood sugar readings that are consistently higher or lower than your usual target range
- Blood pressure readings that are significantly different from your baseline, high or low
- More fatigue than usual that rest doesn’t resolve
- Increased shortness of breath or breathing difficulty
- Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing or moving
- Unusual changes in urination, swelling in the legs, or persistent headaches
- Symptoms that feel like your chronic condition is getting worse despite no change in your routine
Call 911 immediately if you or someone nearby experiences:
- Sudden chest pain, pressure, or tightness
- Difficulty breathing that is severe or comes on suddenly
- Confusion, disorientation, or loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Hot, dry skin with no sweating despite extreme heat, this is a sign of heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency
⚠️ If in doubt, always err on the side of caution. Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Heat-related emergencies can progress rapidly.
Sources: CDC , Extreme Heat Signs and Symptoms | Illinois DPH , Hot Weather Health | Mayo Clinic , Heat Illness Prevention
Practical Summer Steps, With Your Provider’s Guidance
These general strategies are broadly supported by the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and major health organizations. Always discuss any changes with your Healthonomic provider first, particularly if you have a chronic condition, as individual recommendations vary.
- Hydrate strategically, not just more. If your urine is yellow, you’re already one to two liters behind. Aim for a clear to pale yellow as your daily target. For patients on diuretics or with kidney or heart conditions, discuss your specific daily fluid target with your provider; it may be different from the general guidance.
- Know your heat index, not just the temperature. Even when it doesn’t seem very hot outside, the combination of heat and humidity can be dangerous. Check the heat index and air quality index daily at weather.gov. When the heat index is above 90°F or the AQI exceeds 100, plan accordingly.
- Time outdoor activity carefully. Avoid the sun as much as possible between 10:30 am and 2 pm, when heat exhaustion risk is highest. Exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are lower. Always consult your provider before starting or intensifying any exercise routine, especially in summer.
- Keep your medications out of the heat. Many medications, including insulin, inhalers, and certain cardiovascular drugs, can be damaged by high temperatures. Never leave them in a hot car. Store them according to the manufacturer’s instructions and ask your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
- Monitor your numbers more closely. Summer is the season to increase your monitoring frequency, blood sugar, blood pressure, and how your breathing feels. Track changes and bring the data to your next appointment. Patterns you spot early are much easier to address than ones that have been building for weeks.
- Create a summer care plan with your provider. The most important thing on this list. A proactive summer check-in with your Healthonomic provider, before your numbers change, is far easier than reactive management after they do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Heat and Chronic Conditions
Q: Does summer heat raise or lower blood sugar? Heat can affect blood sugar in both directions, depending on the individual, the level of activity, medications used, and hydration status. Heat speeds up insulin absorption, which can lower blood sugar, but dehydration and sunburn can raise it. This is why the CDC recommends that people with diabetes monitor blood sugar more often in summer and stay in close contact with their care team. Never adjust your medication without speaking to your provider. Source: CDC , Managing Diabetes in the Heat
Q: Can heat cause blood pressure to drop dangerously low? Yes, particularly for patients taking blood pressure medication. Heat-related vasodilation can significantly enhance the blood pressure-lowering effects of cardiovascular drugs, potentially causing blood pressure to drop too low and resulting in dizziness or fainting. If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or faint in the heat and you take blood pressure medication, contact your provider. Do not stop taking your medication without medical guidance. Source: European Society of Cardiology
Q: Why does my COPD feel worse in summer? Humid air is dense and contains more water vapor, making it harder to breathe. Hot temperatures also require the body to work harder to stay cool, which adds strain to the respiratory system and worsens COPD symptoms. High ozone and air pollution levels, which peak on hot summer days, compound the problem. Discuss a summer COPD action plan with your Healthonomic provider before symptoms worsen. Source: Medscape , Summer Heat and COPD
Q: Can my medications react badly with the heat? Yes. Certain medications, including diuretics, anticholinergic agents, and some cardiovascular and psychotropic medications, can increase the risk of heat-related illness or interact with heat in ways that affect their effectiveness or safety. Bring a full medication list to your next Healthonomic appointment and ask your provider specifically about summer interactions for your individual regimen. Source: CDC , Heat and Medications Guidance for Clinicians
Q: How do I know if I’m having heat exhaustion or something related to my chronic condition? The symptoms can overlap, which is exactly why this question matters. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, cold, pale, clammy skin, a fast and weak pulse, nausea, and dizziness. If you have a chronic condition and experience any of these symptoms in summer, even if you think it might just be the heat, contact your provider or seek care. Don’t wait to see if it resolves. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency requiring 911. Source: Yale Medicine , Extreme Heat Safety
Q: Should I see my primary care doctor before summer to prepare? Yes, and this is one of the most practical things a patient managing a chronic condition can do. A proactive summer visit allows your provider to review your medications for heat interactions, adjust monitoring frequency if needed, discuss your activity plans safely, and create a summer action plan specific to your conditions. Your Healthonomic provider is available for same-day appointments across Cook County, no referral needed. Source: CDC , Heat and Cardiovascular Disease
Q: Where can I find heat and air quality information for Cook County this summer? The CDC’s HeatRisk forecast is available at weather.gov/safety/heat. The Air Quality Index for your area is available daily at airnow.gov. Both are free, updated daily, and worth checking anytime you’re planning an outdoor activity this summer, especially if you’re managing a chronic condition. Sources: weather.gov/safety/heat | airnow.gov
We’re Here All Summer. So Are Your Health Goals.
At Healthonomic Primary Care, we believe summer shouldn’t mean a pause in your health management; it means a seasonal reset with the right support. Whether you’re managing diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, COPD, or simply want to check in before the heat peaks, our team of physicians and nurse practitioners across Orland Park, Evergreen Park, and Palos Heights is here for you.
Same-day appointments. Extended hours. Whole-person, patient-first care.
- Book an appointment online
- Diabetes Management services
- Blood Pressure services
- Heart Disease services
- Primary Care
- Wellness Check-Ups
- Find a location , Orland Park, Evergreen Park, Palos Heights
Call us: General line: 708-671-1500 | Orland Park: 708-696-1311
Sources & References
- CDC , Managing Diabetes in the Heat: cdc.gov/diabetes/articles/managing-diabetes-in-the-heat.html
- CDC , Heat and Medications Guidance for Clinicians: cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-guidance
- CDC , Clinical Overview: Heat and Cardiovascular Disease: cdc.gov/heat-health
- CDC , Heat and Asthma: cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-overview
- CDC , Protect Yourself from Extreme Heat: cdc.gov/climate-health/php/resources
- Illinois Department of Public Health , Hot Weather Health: dph.illinois.gov
- Mayo Clinic Health System , Heat Illness Prevention: mayoclinichealthsystem.org
- Yale Medicine , How to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat: yalemedicine.org
- Cleveland Clinic , Managing Diabetes and Heat: health.clevelandclinic.org
- Healthline , Diabetes and Heat: healthline.com
- European Society of Cardiology , Climate Change and CVD: escardio.org
- Medscape , Summer Heat and COPD 2025: medscape.com
- Allergy & Asthma Network , Summer Asthma: allergyasthmanetwork.org
- Canadian Lung Association , Protecting Lungs in Heat: lung.ca
- Climate Central , 2026 Allergy Season: climatecentral.org
- AccuWeather 2026 U.S. Allergy Forecast: hometownsource.com
- Nuvance Health , Beat the Heat: nuvancehealth.org
- CDC HeatRisk Forecast: weather.gov/safety/heat
- AirNow , Air Quality Index: airnow.gov
This blog post is intended for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No patient health information (PHI) has been referenced, collected, or disclosed in this content. All statistical data is sourced from publicly available, peer-reviewed, or government health publications. This content is compliant with HIPAA’s minimum necessary standard as it contains no individually identifiable health information.
All health decisions, including any changes to medications, monitoring frequency, activity level, or care routines, must be made in consultation with your qualified healthcare provider. Individual health needs vary significantly. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. Do not use this blog to self-diagnose or self-treat.
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