Live Updates: 4th heat wave of the year grips Central NC; cooling centers open

Here's a look at how the hot weather can affect people who take medication, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, mostly referred to as SSRIs. SSRIs are antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.

Because SSRIs affect serotonin levels, they can interfere with the hypothalamus, which is the part of the brain that acts as your internal thermostat.

This can cause two main problems: Impaired sweating and impaired cooling.

Symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion include nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, increased pulse, confusion, dry skin and high body temperature.

Read more here.

It is especially important to know the symptoms when taking SSRIs.

Working in the heat is routine for many agricultural workers, but persistent triple-digit temperatures are creating growing concerns for both crops and the people tending them.

But this year's conditions have proven especially difficult, with both record heat and ongoing dryness affecting crop growth. Fields planted just two months ago are showing signs of stress.

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Working in the heat is routine for many agricultural workers, but persistent triple-digit temperatures are creating growing concerns for both crops and the people tending them.

Construction Workers

Construction workers in Wake County are preparing for rising temperatures as crews across the Triangle face potentially dangerous heat conditions at job sites.

Brian Sampson, a site superintendent, said experience working in hot conditions does not eliminate the risk of heat-related illness.

Construction companies are also adjusting schedules by starting crews earlier in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Our Sean Coffey has more.

Dr. Tiffany Lowe Clayton, a bariatric physician and obesity specialist at WakeMed, said GLP-1 medications work on receptors in both the brain and the digestive system, which can affect a person's perception of thirst.

"When we are talking about the GLP-1 receptor agonist, the receptors that the medication works on is in the brain as much as it is in the gut. And so often what we may find is that patients may not feel as thirsty," Lowe Clayton said.

"They won't necessarily always get that thirst cue. So set a timer, set a clock, and be able to know that you need to drink throughout the course of a day," she said.

She also noted that some GLP-1 medications can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, which can contribute to fluid loss.

To help prevent dehydration, Lowe Clayton recommends drinking plenty of water, avoiding sugary drinks, and adding electrolytes when appropriate.

As the extremely heat grips North Carolina, don't expect relief when the sunsets.

There will be little overnight relief, with temperatures only falling into the mid-70s throughout the heat wave.

There will be little overnight relief, with temperatures only falling into the mid-70s throughout the heat wave.