Alternate Names: Sensitivity to heat; Intolerance to heat

Considerations: 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:

• thyrotoxicosis (Excess thyroid hormone increases the basal metabolic rate, which causes body temperature to rise.)
• amphetamines (such as appetite suppressants)

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

Call If:

• there is persistent and unexplained heat intolerance.

What To Expect: 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?
• aggravating factors
  • Is it worse when you exercise?
• associated complaints
  • Have you also suffered a heat stroke?
• other
  • What other symptoms are present? Especially, is there:
    • fainting
    • vomiting
    • dizziness
    • palpitations
    • rapid pulse (heart rate)

• blood studies (such as CBC, or blood differential)
• X-rays of the skull
• thyroid studies (TSH, T3, T4)