30-06-2019
As much as some people love hot summer days, for others the warmer seasons are simply a nightmare - this refers to those patients who struggle with heat intolerance. This problem is not a disease in itself, but can be a symptom of a wide variety of health problems - heat intolerance can occur with certain medications, as well as being a complication of diabetes or associated with an endocrine disease.
Few people like scorching temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius, but those who suffer from heat intolerance cannot tolerate them. This phenomenon can have a wide variety of origins - the primary factor that can be linked to it is age. Children (especially newborns) and the elderly are less able to adapt to high temperatures. However, heat intolerance should not be linked solely to age - in fact, the problems that can lead to this phenomenon are relatively numerous.
People who develop autonomic nervous system dysfunction, known as dysautonomia, may have difficulty functioning in high temperatures. This can occur with diabetes, but also with alcohol abuse or Parkinson's disease.
Sometimes, heat intolerance is a side effect of the medication the patient is taking, such as with anticholinergics, which can lead to a reduction in perspiration and thus result in difficulty functioning in high temperatures. Another cause of this problem can be endocrine disease, such as hyperthyroidism.
Heat tolerance is generally an individual characteristic - some people simply react better to heat, others worse. However, it should be emphasised that if a person suddenly develops a severe heat intolerance, it is important to see a doctor - after all, the problem may even be a symptom of a serious illness.
