Heat intolerance
{{Short description|Symptom characterized by feeling overheated in warm environments}}
{{Confused|Heat stroke}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|it does not comply with MOS:MED|date=May 2024}}
Heat intolerance is a symptom characterized by feeling overheated in warm environments or when the surrounding environment's temperature rises.{{r|MedlinePlus 2020}} Typically, the person feels uncomfortably hot and sweats excessively.
Compared to heat illnesses like heatstroke, heat intolerance is usually a symptom of endocrine disorders, drugs, or other medical conditions, rather than the result of too much exercise or hot, humid weather.
Symptoms
- Feeling subjectively hot
- Sweating, which may be excessive
In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), heat intolerance may cause a pseudoexacerbation, which is a temporary worsening of MS-related symptoms.
A temporary worsening of symptoms can also happen in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and dysautonomia.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is largely made from the patient history, followed by blood tests and other medical tests to determine the underlying cause. In women, hot flashes must be excluded.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
Causes
Excess thyroid hormone, which is called thyrotoxicosis (such as in cases of hyperthyroidism), is the most common cause.{{cite web | title=Heat intolerance: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia | website=MedlinePlus | date=2020-03-04 | url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003094.htm | access-date=2020-03-20}}Wilkins, Lippincott Williams &. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PcARTQwHLpIC&pg=PA306 Nursing: Interpreting signs & symptoms]. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007-03-01 . {{ISBN|9781582556680}}. p. 306–307.
Other causes include:
- Amphetamines along with other types of stimulant medications, such as appetite suppressants
- Anticholinergics and other drugs that can impair sweating
- Caffeine
- Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Hui J.|last2=Lee|first2=Chang Seok|last3=Yee|first3=Rachel Sue Zhen|last4=Groom|first4=Linda|last5=Friedman|first5=Inbar|last6=Babcock|first6=Lyle|last7=Georgiou|first7=Dimitra K.|last8=Hong|first8=Jin|last9=Hanna|first9=Amy D.|last10=Recio|first10=Joseph|last11=Choi|first11=Jong Min|date=2020-10-09|title=Adaptive thermogenesis enhances the life-threatening response to heat in mice with an Ryr1 mutation|journal=Nature Communications|language=en|volume=11|issue=1|pages=5099|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-18865-z|pmid=33037202|issn=2041-1723|pmc=7547078|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5099W}}
- Menopause
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetes
- Hypothalamic tumors
- Methadone treatment
- Dysautonomia"[https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000776.htm Autonomic neuropathy]" from U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedLine Plus. Accessed 2015-05-20.
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Sensory defensiveness/sensory processing disorder
- Serotonin syndrome
Treatment
Treatment is directed at making the affected person feel more comfortable, and, if possible, resolving the underlying cause of the heat intolerance.
Symptoms can be reduced by staying in a cool environment. Drinking more fluids, especially if the person is sweating excessively, may help.
Cooling vests can be used as a preventative tool to reduce a person's body temperature or when symptoms present to feel more comfortable.