Can’t Deal With the Heat? Blame Your Aging Body

Summer is there, and it’s already Dangerously hot. A major heat wave has swept the center and the east of the United States, with climbing temperatures greater than 100 degrees. Nationally, the season should be warmer than usual, according to the National Weather Service.

Unfortunately, extreme heat increases the risk of dangerous Heat diseases, especially for the elderly. People over 60 represents the majority of heat-related deaths in the United States, revealed that research has revealed. According to the World Health Organization, heat -related mortality in people over 65 increased by 85% between 2000 and 2021.

It is not a coincidence – the aging process and the extreme heat simply do not mix well, say the experts. Here is why – and what the elderly can do to stay safe as temperatures soar.

Even if you are exceptionally healthy, aging will always make you more vulnerable to heat -related diseases such as heat exhaustion, when the body has trouble regulating its temperature or heat stroke, which can be fatal.

The bodies naturally lose their ability to refresh themselves over time, said Wynnelena Canio, MD, a doctor in geriatric medicine with Kaiser Permanent Nord-California. “Older adults tend to keep more heat than the youngest and working harder to maintain a constant temperature,” she said Health.

Three key factors stimulate change:

• Less effective blood circulation: When it is toasted outside, the bodies work hard to cool off. Blood moves to the skin and blood vessels expand to increase perspiration, which helps regulate body temperature, said Richard Marottoli, MD, MPH, a geriatrician for Yale medicine. But as you age, age -related changes in the heart and blood vessels make your body less effective in circulating blood. In turn, temperature control becomes more difficult, according to the National Institutes of Health.
• A reduced capacity to sweat: At the same time, aging lowers your ability to sweat, altering the natural cooling mechanism of the body. This happens because as you get older, the skin is thinning, which means that the conduits of the sweat glands are getting closer to the surface of the skin. At the same time, you also lose collagen, a fiber type protein used to make connective tissue. The combination leads to the compression of the conduits, which makes them more difficult to release sweat.
• A higher sensitivity to dehydration: The feeling of feeling dry – and the desire to drink that accompanies this – flows over time, just like the ability of your kidneys to regulate your liquid and electrolyte balance. A study revealed that the glomerular filtration rate, a renal functioning measure, can start to decrease as young as 40 years, signaling a higher sensitivity to dehydration. In addition to this, the elderly are also more likely to take medication, such as diuretics or sedatives, which cause dehydration or additional impact on the ability of the body to sweat.

The elderly are also more likely to have chronic diseases, which can worsen in extreme heat. “Anyone with problems with heart, lung, kidney, electrolyte or cognitive can be very sensitive to this additional stressor,” said Marottoli Health.

Heat disease often starts with a headache. However, some people can also develop:

Extreme heat could also trigger chest pain, Who can be a sign of a heart attack, has noted Canio.

To cool quickly, apply cold water In the face and neck, then your hands and feet, she said. If you have a Ice pack and cold compress, Hold them against your wrists, your top of the chest, your upper back and the base of your neck.

If you know that a heat wave is coming, Wet bath vests and put them in the freezer. Wrap them around your neck or place them under your sheets at night if the heat prevents you from sleeping, suggests Canio.

If you don’t feel better, see a doctor. The exhaustion of heat can quickly progress towards a deadly heat stroke, according to the NIH. There are treatments, including IV liquids and drugs that support organ function, which can help you recover.

Extremely hot days – when the temperature rises above 95 degrees – becomes more common and heat waves become longer and harder. As such, you will want to have a plan in place when it is stifling outside.

The elderly should Stay in air -conditioned buildings as much as possible. Pulling the nuances during the day can prevent the house from warming up, added Marottoli.

If you do not have air conditioning, contact your local health service for a list of Local cooling shelters. Fans, although helpful, are sometimes not enough to fight heat at home.

Drink more water than usual Can also help keep your body fresh and hydrated. Drinks filled with electrolytes, such as sports drinks and vegetable or fruit juices, can reconstruct minerals lost by sweat. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated, Said Canio.

Wear loose, light and light -in -color clothes and take showers or fresh baths if you feel hot. Try to avoid intense activities and rest until the heat dissipates.

Many elderly people live alone and may not take the necessary measures to stay healthy and cool. Limited mobility can prevent them from moving to a fresher environment, for example, and they can avoid using air conditioning due to financial problems, David Cutler, MD, family medical doctor at the Providence Saint John Health Center in Santa Monica, California, said Health. As such, he said, “Friends and family members should regularly check the elderly during heat waves.”