Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Climate change contributes to health issues such as elevated blood pressure due to the body's response to extreme temperatures. Hypertensive patients require support to adapt to these climate impacts, making it essential to develop mitigation strategies to cope with extreme climate change as well as promoting adaptation to these impacts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological design was used, involving 15 hypertensive patients selected through homogeneous purposive sampling at selected public hospitals. Data were gathered via semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and analysed using Tesch's method. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The following themes emerged from this study: (i) hypertensive patients' experiences of living with high blood pressure under changing weather conditions, (ii) their strategies to adapt to hypertensive conditions during extreme hot weather and suggestions to improve strategies to adapt to climate change. Findings highlighted a strong need for emotional and practical support to help manage their condition effectively. CONCLUSIONS: Unpredictable climate changes complicate hypertensive patients' ability to adapt. The study recommends raising awareness, providing education on climate-health links, and building community capacity to support adaptation.