DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm retired and enjoy spending time outdoors in my garden and kayaking with my family. I have high blood pressure, which has been managed by medication for nearly 10 years. Recently I've noticed that I develop a headache, nausea and sometimes dizziness after a few hours in the heat and sun. What is causing these symptoms?
ANSWER: Weather can play a role in triggering certain health problems. High temperatures and high humidity are two factors that can cause serious health consequences for people with high blood pressure and heart disease.
In summer weather, blood pressure can be affected by the body's attempts to radiate heat. High temperatures and high humidity can cause more blood flow to the skin. This causes the heart to beat faster while circulating twice as much blood per minute than on a normal day.
