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Elder Care News
Hyperthermia: When It's Too Hot for
Elderly People's Health
By National
Institute on Aging - click
July 13, 2006 - Irene is retired, she loves to work in her garden.
Because she has always spent hours outside, she thinks the heat and
humidity of Midwestern summers dont bother her. Then last year an
unusual heat wave hit her area. Every day the temperature was over 100°
F, and the humidity was at least 90%. Five days into the heat wave, her
daughter Kim came over because Irene sounded confused on the phone.
Kim
found her mom passed out on the kitchen floor. The ambulance came
quickly when called, but Irene almost died. She had heat stroke,
the most serious form of hyperthermia.
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Almost every summer there is a deadly heat wave in
some part of the country. Too much heat is not safe for anyone. It is
even riskier if you are older or if you have health problems. It is
important to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you might begin
to feel confused or faint. Your heart could become stressed, and maybe
stop beating.
Your body is always working to keep a balance
between how much heat it makes and how much it loses. Your brain is the
thermostat. It sends and receives signals to and from parts of your body
that affect temperature, such as the spinal cord, muscles, blood
vessels, skin, and glands that make substances known as hormones. Too
much heat causes sweating. When the sweat dries from your skin, the
surface of your body cools and your temperature goes down.
Being hot for too long can cause many illnesses,
all grouped under the name hyperthermia (hy-per-ther-mee-uh):
Heat cramps are the painful tightening of
muscles in your stomach area, arms, or legs. Cramps can result from hard
work or exercise. While your body temperature and pulse usually stay
normal during heat cramps, your skin may feel moist and cool. Take these
cramps as a sign that you are too hot find a way to cool your body
down. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, but not those containing
alcohol or caffeine.
Heat edema is a swelling in your ankles and
feet when you get hot. Putting your legs up should help. If that doesnt
work fairly quickly, check with your doctor.
Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that may
come on when you are active in the heat. If you take a form of heart
medication known as a beta blocker or are not used to hot weather, you
are even more likely to feel faint when in the heat. Putting your legs
up and resting in a cool place should make the dizzy feeling go away.
Heat exhaustion is a warning that your body
can no longer keep itself cool. You might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak,
uncoordinated, nauseated, and sweat a lot. Your body temperature stays
normal, skin feels cold and clammy. Your pulse can be normal or raised.
Resting in a cool place, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting medical
care should help you feel better soon. If not, this condition can
progress to heat stroke.
Heat stroke is an emergency it can be life
threatening! You need to get medical help right away. Getting to a cool
place is very important, but so is treatment by a doctor. Many people
die of heat stroke each year. Older people living in homes or apartments
without air conditioning or good airflow are at most risk. So are people
who dont drink enough water or those with chronic diseases or
alcoholism.
The Signs of Heat Stroke
● Fainting, possibly the first sign,
● Body temperature over 104° F,
● A change in behavior confusion, being grouchy, acting strangely,
or staggering,
● Dry flushed skin and a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse,
● Not sweating, despite the heat, acting delirious, or being in a
coma.
Who Is at Risk?
Hundreds of people die from hyperthermia each year
during very hot weather. Most are over 50 years old. The temperature
outside or inside does not have to hit 100° F for you to be at risk for
a heat-related illness. Health problems that put you at risk include:
● Heart or blood vessel problems, poorly working
sweat glands, or changes in your skin caused by normal aging.
● Heart, lung, or kidney disease, as well as any illness that makes
you feel weak all over or causes a fever.
● High blood pressure or other conditions that make it necessary for
you to change some of the foods you eat. For example, if you are
supposed to avoid salt in your food, your risk of heat-related illness
may be higher. Check with your doctor.
● Conditions treated by drugs such as diuretics, sedatives,
tranquilizers, and some heart and blood pressure medicines. These may
make it harder for your body to cool itself by perspiring.
● Taking several drugs for a variety of health problems. Keep taking
your prescriptions, but ask your doctor what to do if the drugs you are
taking make you more likely to become overheated.
● Being quite a bit overweight or underweight.
● Drinking alcoholic beverages.
How Can I Lower My Risk?
Things you can do to lower your risk of
heat-related illness:
● Drink plenty of liquids water or fruit and
vegetable juices. Every day you should drink at least eight glasses to
keep your body working properly. Heat tends to make you lose fluids so
it is very important to drink at least that much, if not more, when it
is hot. Avoid drinks containing caffeine or alcohol. They make you lose
more fluids. If your doctor has told you to limit your liquids, ask what
you should do when it is very hot.
● If you live in a home or apartment without fans or air conditioning,
be sure to follow these steps to lower your chance of heat problems:
● open windows at night;
● create cross-ventilation by opening windows on two sides of the
building;
● cover windows when they are in direct sunlight;
● keep curtains, shades or blinds drawn during the hottest part
of the day;
● try to spend at least 2 hours a day (if possible during the
hottest part of the day) some place air-conditioned for example, the
shopping mall, the movies, the library, a senior center, or a friends
house if you dont have air conditioning.
● Check with your local area agency on aging to see if there is a
program that provides window air conditioners to seniors who qualify.
● If you think you cant afford to run your air conditioner in the
summer, contact your local area agency on aging. Or, ask at your local
senior center. They may know if there are any programs in your community
to aid people who need help paying their cooling bills. The Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is one possible source.
● Ask a friend or relative to drive you to a cool place on very hot
days if you dont have a car or no longer drive. Many towns or counties,
area agencies, religious groups, and senior citizen centers provide such
services. If necessary, take a taxi.
● Dont stand outside waiting for a bus.
● Pay attention to the weather reports. You are more at risk as the
temperature or humidity rise or when there is an air pollution alert in
effect.
● Dress for the weather. Some people find natural fabrics such as
cotton to be cooler than synthetic fibers. Light-colored clothes reflect
the sun and heat better than dark colors. If you are unsure about what
to wear, ask a friend or family member to help you select clothing that
will help you stay cool.
● Dont try to exercise or do a lot of activities when it is hot.
● Avoid crowded places when its hot outside. Plan trips during
non-rush hour times.
What Should I Remember?
Headache, confusion, dizziness, or nausea when
youre in a hot place or during hot weather could be a sign of a
heat-related illness. Go to the doctor or an emergency room to find out
if you need treatment. To keep heat-related illnesses from becoming a
dangerous heat stroke, remember to:
● Get out of the sun and into a cool place
air-conditioning is best.
● Offer fluids, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. Water and fruit and
vegetable juices are best.
● Shower or bathe, or at least sponge off with cool water.
● Lie down and rest, if possible in a cool place.
● Visit your doctor or an emergency room if you dont cool down
quickly.
For More Information
To find your local area agency on aging look in
the telephone book or contact:
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
1112 Sixteenth Street, NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20036
202-296-8130
www.n4a.org
Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
www.eldercare.gov
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline (NEAR)
1-866-674-6327
www.ncat.org
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