Heat Waves Amplify Risks for People with ADHD and Heart Conditions

Medical experts warn that extreme summer heat intensifies health problems for vulnerable groups. Dr. Darío Fernández Delgado explains that temperatures above 38 °C trigger emergency cooling mechanisms that drain glucose from the pre‑frontal brain, worsening ADHD symptoms. He cites four aggravating factors – stimulus overload, insomnia, heat‑raising medication effects and disrupted summer routines – and stresses the danger of heat stroke, noting that “el 70 % de las personas que llegan a tener un golpe de calor… tiene una mortalidad muy alta”.

Dr. José Ramón Rumoroso adds that the cardiovascular system is similarly strained. Heat‑induced vasodilation forces the heart to pump more blood while dehydration concentrates the blood, raising the risk of clots, infarction and arrhythmias. He emphasizes that “cuando aparece la sed, ya existe un grado de deshidratación real”, and flags seniors, patients with existing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and outdoor workers as especially at risk.