National Institute on Aging feel faint. Rest in a cool place, put your legs up, and drink water to make the dizzy feeling go away. AgePage ■ Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach, arms, or legs. Cramps can result from hard work or exercise. Though your : Too body temperature and pulse usually stay normal during heat cramps, your Hot for Your Health skin may feel moist and cool. Find a way to cool your body down. Rest in Suyin’s bus was late. Even though it was noon the shade or in a cool building. Drink on a very hot summer day, she decided to walk plenty of fuids, but not those with from the grocery store to her home. At 72— alcohol or caffeine. healthy and active—Suyin thought the heat would be no match for her! Yet, after walking ■ Heat edema is a swelling in your just one block, she felt dizzy and weak. ankles and feet when you get hot. Put your legs up to help reduce swelling. If Too much heat is not safe for anyone. that doesn’t work fairly quickly, check It is even riskier if you are older or have with your doctor. health problems. It is important to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you ■ Heat exhaustion is a warning that might begin to feel confused or faint. your body can no longer keep itself Your heart could become stressed and cool. You might feel thirsty, dizzy, stop beating. weak, uncoordinated, and nauseated. Being hot for too long can be a You may sweat a lot. Your body problem. It can cause several illnesses, temperature may stay normal, but all grouped under the name hyperthermia your skin may feel cold and clammy. (hy-per-THER-mee-uh): Some people with heat exhaustion have a rapid pulse. Rest in a cool place ■ Heat is a sudden dizziness that and get plenty of fuids. If you don’t can happen when you are active in hot feel better soon, get medical care. Be weather. If you take a heart medication careful—heat exhaustion can progress called a beta blocker or are not used to to . hot weather, you are even more likely to

2 Heat Stroke—A Medical ■ Heart, lung, or kidney disease, as Emergency well as any illness that makes you feel weak all over or results in a fever If you have heat stroke, you need to ■ Conditions treated by drugs, such get medical help right away. Older people as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, living in homes or apartments without and some heart and high blood air conditioning or fans are at most risk. pressure medicines; they may make it People who become dehydrated or those harder for your body to cool itself with chronic diseases or alcoholism are also at most risk. Signs of heat stroke are: ■ Taking several prescription drugs; ask your doctor if any of your ■ Fainting (possibly the frst sign) or medications make you more likely to becoming unconscious become overheated. ■ A change in behavior—, ■ Being very overweight or agitation, staggering, being grouchy, or underweight acting strangely ■ Drinking alcoholic beverages ■ Body temperature over 104°F (40°C)

■ Dry, fushed skin and a strong, rapid How Can I Lower My Risk? pulse or a slow, weak pulse ■ Not sweating even if it is hot Things you can do to lower your risk of heat-related illness: Who Is at Risk? ■ Drink plenty of liquids, such as water or fruit or vegetable juices. Stay Each year, most people who die from away from drinks containing alcohol hyperthermia are over 50 years old. or caffeine. If your doctor has told Health problems that put you at greater you to limit your liquids, ask what you risk include: should do when it is very hot. ■ Heart or blood vessel problems ■ If you live in a home or apartment ■ Poorly working sweat glands or without fans or air conditioning, try changes in your skin caused by normal to keep your house as cool as possible. aging Limit your use of the oven. Keep your shades, blinds, or curtains closed during

3 4 the hottest part of the day. Open your What Should I Remember? windows at night. Older people can have a tough time

■ If your house is hot, try to spend dealing with heat and humidity. The time during mid-day some place that temperature inside or outside does not has air conditioning—for example, go have to reach 100°F (38°C) to put them to the shopping mall, movies, library, at risk for a heat-related illness. senior center, or a friend’s house. Headache, confusion, dizziness, or ■ If you need help getting to a cool nausea could be a sign of a heat-related place, ask a friend or relative. Some illness. Go to the doctor or an emergency religious groups, senior centers, and room to fnd out if you need treatment. Area Agencies on Aging provide this To keep heat-related illnesses from service. If necessary, take a taxi or call becoming a dangerous heat stroke, for senior transportation. Don’t stand remember to: outside in the heat waiting for a bus. ■ Get out of the sun and into a cool ■ Dress for the weather. Some people place—air-conditioning is best. fnd natural fabrics, such as cotton, to ■ Drink fuids, but avoid alcohol and be cooler than synthetic fbers. caffeine. Water and fruit or vegetable ■ Don’t try to exercise or do a lot of juices are good choices. activities outdoors when it’s hot. ■ Shower, bathe, or sponge off with ■ Avoid crowded places when it’s hot cool water. outside. Plan trips during non-rush- ■ Lie down and rest in a cool place. hour times. ■ Visit your doctor or go to an emergency room if you don’t cool Listen to Weather Reports down quickly. If the temperature or humidity is going up or an air pollution alert is in effect, you are at increased risk for a heat- related illness. Play it safe by checking the weather report before going outside.

5 6 For more information on health and A Senior Watch aging, contact: During hot weather, think about making National Institute on Aging daily visits to older relatives and neighbors. Information Center Remind them to drink lots of water or juice, as long as their doctor hasn’t P.O. Box 8057 recommended otherwise because of a Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057 pre-existing condition. If there is a heat 1-800-222-2225 (toll-free) wave, offer to help them go someplace 1-800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free) cool, such as air-conditioned malls, [email protected] (email) libraries, or senior centers. www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/health to fnd more For More Information about health and aging information from NIA and subscribe to email alerts. Visit Hyperthermia https://order.nia.nih.gov to order free National Association of Area Agencies print publications. on Aging 1-202-872-0888 [email protected] (email) www.n4a.org Eldercare Locator 1-800-677-1116 (toll-free) www.eldercare.gov Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline (NEAR) 1-866-674-6327 (toll-free) [email protected] (email) www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

June 2016

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