MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Heat intolerance

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Heat intolerance

Contents of this page:
Alternative names Definition Considerations Common Causes	Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Alternative names

Sensitivity to heat; Intolerance to heat

Definition Return to top

Heat intolerance is the inability to be comfortable when external temperatures rise.

Considerations Return to top

Heat intolerance often produces a feeling of being overheated and can produce heavy sweating. Heat intolerance usually comes on slowly and persists long-term.

Common Causes Return to top

Thyrotoxicosis (excess thyroid hormone, which increases the basal metabolic rate, causing body temperature to rise)
Amphetamines such as appetite suppressants
Caffeine
Menopause

Home Care Return to top

Room temperature should be kept at a comfortable level. Drinking lots of fluids is recommended.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

Call your health care provider if there is persistent and unexplained heat intolerance.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting heat intolerance in detail may include:

Time pattern
- Have you had heat intolerance before?
- Have you always had difficulty tolerating heat?
- When did you begin to develop heat intolerance?
Associated complaints
- Is it worse when you exercise?
- What other symptoms are present? Especially, is there:
  - Fainting
  - Vomiting
  - Dizziness
  - Palpitations
  - Rapid pulse (heart rate)

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

Blood studies
Thyroid studies (TSH, T3, free T4)

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to heat intolerance to your personal medical record.

Update Date: 2/2/2004

Updated by: Tarun Jain, M.D., Endocrinology & Infertility Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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