CAREFUL: Higher temperatures and days filled with sunlight — while wonderful to see — can be dangerous for folks who take some common medications.

We checked with AARP for some information on risks.

“Many common prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause heat intolerance by interfering with your body’s natural cooling mechanisms. They can disrupt your internal thermostat, reduce sweating or blunt thirst signals. This significantly increases your risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

Some of these include heart medications — pills for high blood pressure and blood clot prevention; diuretics or water pills, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs and antiplatelets; antidepressants and antipsychotics; central nervous system stimulants prescribed for ADHD; anticholinergics, prescribed for Parkinson’s disease and overactive bladder; antihistamines and decongestants; and dopaminergics, prescribed for Parkinson’s disease.

“When is “hot” too hot? Weather forecasters use something called the heat index to measure what the weather actually feels like to you. The index considers both the temperature and humidity. For example, if the temperature is 100 degrees and the relative humidity is 55 percent, it will feel like 124 degrees out. 

“At 80 degrees to 90 degrees, the National Weather Service advises caution with prolonged exposure. Note that the heat index is calculated with temperatures in the shade but can increase by up to 15 degrees in direct sunlight.”

Some medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, leading to a greater risk for sunburn-like symptoms, a rash or other side effects. These include antibiotics, antifungals, antihistamines, statin cholesterol medications, and diabetes medications.

Stay hydrated. That’s always important, but more so when the temperature is high and you may be sweating more.

Keep cool. Wear loose, light-fitting clothing. Pull down the shades at home. Use fans or air conditioning. Avoid outdoor activity during the hottest times of day.