Protect yourself from the trouble caused by heat: Tips for Seniors

With age, our bodies are more difficult to respond adequately to high summer temperatures. This can have serious health consequences. The National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIA, NIH, for its acronym in English, respectively) gives some advice to older people to prevent various disorders caused by heat grouped under the name hyperthermia.

Among the disorders that are known as hyperthermia are heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in a hot place), heat cramps and heat prostration. Risk factors of hyperthermia include temperature and general health status and lifestyle of each person. Health factors that may increase the risk include:
Suffering Skin changes of aging such as poor blood circulation and sweat glands deficient;
Suffer from diseases of the heart, lungs and kidneys, and any disease that causes weakness or fever;
Suffering from hypertension or other illness that requires changes in the diet (Example of this are low-salt diets. The salt tablets, however, should not be used without first talking to your doctor);
Having poor sweating caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart medications or blood;
Taking several drugs for various diseases, (It is important, however, stop taking any medication without talking to your doctor);
Being too thin or too overweight;
Drinking;
Be dehydrated.

Your lifestyle may also have factors that increase the risk of hyperthermia. Examples are too warm housing, lack of transportation, heavy clothing, the crowds, and ignorance about how to respond appropriately to adverse weather. The elderly, especially those most at risk, should stay home on days of extreme heat and humidity, especially if they have issued warnings of high levels of air pollution. People who do not have fans or air conditioners should go to places like malls, theaters, libraries or air-conditioned centers operated by government agencies, religious groups and social service organizations in many communities.

Heat stroke is an advanced form of hyperthermia that occurs when the body is overwhelmed by excessive heat and loses the ability to regulate temperature. A person with a temperature above 40 ° C (104 ° F) is likely to be suffering from heat stroke. Signs of heat stroke include: confusion, aggressiveness, tachycardia, lack of sweating, flushing and dryness of the skin or beginning to falter, faint, or fall into a coma delire. If anyone has any of these symptoms, seek medical assistance immediately, especially if it is an older person.

If you suspect someone is suffering from a disorder caused by heat,
Take it to a place where there is shade and air conditioning, or for freshness.
Give fluids like water or fruit or vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol or caffeine.
Do take a shower or bath or spend a sponge with cool water.
Apply cold compresses on the wrists, neck, armpits and / or groin (these are places where blood flows close to the skin and apply the pads there can help cool the blood).
Have him lie down and rest, preferably in a cool place.