The summer is in full swing and while this means longer sunny days, it also means the potential for overheating.

Seniors are especially more vulnerable to extreme heat conditions. The last thing you want is for your health to be at risk.

In order to keep you on alert, here’s a guide on the most common signs of overheating.

Weak and Fatigued

If you got a good night sleep and you feel weak and fatigued from being outside, it’s a clear sign your body has begun to overheat.

Along with weakness and exhaustion, your body will also feel agitated and confused when overexposed to heat.

You Feel Nauseous

If you’re enjoying a hot summer day outside and suddenly feel nausea, you need to get yourself to a cooler area. Feeling nauseous is a pretty big sign your body is overheating.

However, if the nausea is accompanied by vomit, you might be heading into heatstroke territory.

Dizziness out of Nowhere

Dizziness is never a good sign, so if you’re out in the heat and notice you start to get dizzy, this is a pretty clear sign your body is overheating. Ignoring the early overheating symptoms can lead to a heat stroke.

Sweating Profusely

While there’s nothing wrong with a little sweat, if notice excess sweat going through your clothes, it’s a sign you’re overheated.

However, in some cases, people might experience a lack of sweat. This is known as anhidrosis, and it happens when your body loses the ability to cool itself off.

So if you experience too much perspiration or none at all, your body is trying to tell you to cool off.

Headaches

If you’ve spent a prolonged period of time in excessive heat, then you might begin to experience a headache.

A dull or a throbbing headache is a pretty common sign of a heat stroke. This is your body giving you a signal that you need to cool down.

How Can You Prevent Overheating

• Stay Hydrated: If you know you have to leave your house during hotter than usual days, you should make sure you drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Make sure you avoid caffeinated drinks or alcohol since these tend to contribute to dehydration.
• Stay in Doors: We’re not saying to never leave the house, but you should avoid going outside during peak hot hours. If you must leave, try to do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
• Dress Appropriately: You should dress light and comfortably to help prevent overheating. For example, avoid wearing dark colored clothing, try to stick with light colors. Wear loose-fitting clothes that are also breathable. Carry a light sweater if you get chilly when you walk into an air-conditioned building.

Signs of Overheating

Although it’s nice to spend days outside enjoying the summer heat, you should know the common signs of overheating in seniors.

If you begin to feel nauseous, fatigued, dizzy or sweating out of the ordinary, it’s time you allow your body to cool off.

Did you enjoy these tips? If you want to read about these 5 exercises you can do at home, click here.

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For more on this subject, read our blog “5 Exercises for Seniors to Do at Home.”

Seniors Helping Seniors is a unique care program that matches seniors to other seniors in need of assistance, to continue activities they enjoy and remain independent and safe in familiar surroundings.

If you’re looking for assistance for yourself, a loved one, or you are a senior interested in providing care, please contact us or call us at 800-481-2488 to learn more.