7 Reasons You Might Always Feel Hot

It's normal to feel hot from time to time. Various environmental and lifestyle factors can lead to fluctuations in body temperature that temporarily produce more heat in the body. Taking part in physical activity, being outside in hot weather, or drinking a hot, caffeinated beverage can all make you feel hotter than usual in the short term.

However, there are certain factors beyond a sweaty spin class or an afternoon at the beach that can make you feel hot all the time. If you find that you are often feeling hot, it is important to identify the cause in case it's a medical issue that needs attention—not to mention, so you can get some relief.

1. Diabetes

Insulin is a hormone your body creates that converts glucose (sugar) from the food you eat into energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't respond to insulin correctly. Because insulin isn't turning the glucose into energy, the levels of glucose in your blood increases.

These increased blood glucose levels can create complications over time. Eventually, diabetes can damage your blood vessels and nerves. This damage can go on to affect your sweat glands in a way that makes it hard for your body to effectively cool itself.

You might feel hotter regardless of whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when your pancreas doesn't make enough or any insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when your cells don't respond to insulin correctly.

2. Hypothyroidism

If you have hyperthyroidism, it means you have an overactive thyroid. In other words, the thyroid gland in the front of your neck is making more thyroid hormones than your body needs.

Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Other causes include growths on your thyroid, inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), and an excessive intake of iodine.

One of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is trouble with tolerating heat. Other symptoms include fatigue, muscle weakness, and hand tremors.

3. Pregnancy

There are three reasons why someone who is pregnant might feel hotter.

First, you can become more sensitive to the heat because of the natural changes in thermoregulation (the ability of your body to control and regulate its temperature) during pregnancy.

Second, the weight you gain during pregnancy lowers the ratio of body surface area to body mass, which makes it harder for people who are pregnant to regulate the distribution of internal heat.

Third, a growing fetus may create heat in the body, which can lead to an increase in core body temperature for the person who is pregnant.

4. Menopause

Menopause is when a person's period stop permanently. After menopause, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone dip to low levels. When estrogen gets very low, it can cause symptoms such as hot flashes, which are sudden sensations of warmth felt on areas of the body such as the face, chest, and neck.

These sensations of warmth are immediately followed by an outbreak of sweating that, on average, lasts less than five minutes.

Hot flashes can come and go for six months to several years. You can experience them anywhere from several times per week to 10 times per day. Over time, hot flashes usually decrease in frequency and intensity.

Hot flashes can occur during any time of day or night. When hot flashes occur at night, they are called night sweats and can disrupt sleep.

5. Anhidrosis

If you are experiencing anhidrosis, it means you are not able to sweat. There can be several reasons why your body can't sweat, including nerve damage, clogged sweat ducts, skin injuries, and dehydration.

Sweat allows for your body to cool itself by getting rid of the excess heat your metabolism and muscles create. Because of this, you avoid overheating. But without the production of sweat, your body cannot properly cool itself.

If something is causing you to experience anhidrosis, you may be less tolerant of heat and have a hard time concentrating in warm environments. You might also feel fatigued and drowsy.

6. Fever

A fever is when your body's temperature spikes to a level of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. A fever is usually a sign that your body is trying to fight off an infection. But you might also develop a fever in response to medications, heat illness, certain cancers, certain autoimmune diseases, or some vaccines.

During a fever, a person may feel warm to the touch and may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

• Skin rash
• Trouble breathing
• Persistent cough
• Persistent vomiting
• Persistent diarrhea
• Decreased consciousness or confusion
• Unexplained, new bleeding or bruising
• Headache with a stiff neck

If your fever lasts for longer than 48 hours, you should seek medical care. You should seek immediate medical care if you develop a fever when undergoing chemotherapy.

7. Medications

Certain types of common medications can affect your body's ability to properly regulate heat. Therefore, taking the medication may increase how sensitive you are to heat. This is especially true for adults older than 65 years.

Anticholinergics are a group of medications that can have a warming effect on your body. The medications work by blocking the activity of a natural substance (acetylcholine) in the body, which can help in the treatment of respiratory disorders, psychiatric disorders, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.

Serotonergic drugs may also make you feel hotter as one of their side effects. Serotonergics are drugs that affect serotonin, a hormone that regulates your mood. Examples of serotonergics include antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Sympathomimetic drugs are medications that can change your nervous system in a way that helps in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, including glaucoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and low blood pressure (hypotension). One of the potential side effects of the drug class is an increase in internal temperature.

Other medications that can make you feel warm as a side effect include:

• Antibiotics
• Blood pressure medications
• Anti-seizure medications
• Diuretics (especially when combined with high blood pressure medication, anticholinergics, or psychotropics such as antidepressants and antipsychotics)
• Anaesthetics (drugs that prevent you from feeling pain during surgery and other medical procedures)
  

How to Get Relief

If you're feeling unusually hot, there are a number of ways you can cool down and get relief. What works for you might depend on what's causing your warmth. If a condition is causing you to be hot, managing the condition might bring relief. Sometimes, medication can help. For instance, if you have a fever, taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can reduce your temperature.

Medication might also help with hot flashes. Some people take hormonal medications to control the menopause symptom. There's also a nonhormonal medication option for the treatment of hot flashes: the antidepressant Paxil (paroxetine).

If a medication you are already taking is causing you to be hot, you can speak to a healthcare provider about making changes to your medication.

Otherwise, there are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to try to prevent feeling hot. You can:

• Wear cool, lightweight clothing.
• If you are in public, stay in air-conditioned buildings, such as malls or libraries, as much as possible.
• Avoid using the stove to cook, especially during the summer. The heat generated during cooking will warm up the surrounding areas of your home.
• Limit the time you spend outside taking part in activities requiring vigorous effort. The best times to schedule outdoor activities are in the morning or evening hours.
• Stay hydrated. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. The general guideline is that you should take in 91-125 fluid ounces of water per day from foods and liquids.
• Drink some cold water before bed if you get night sweats.
• Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine if you have hot flashes.
• Get enough sleep.
  

How to Get Instant Relief

If you are feeling hot and in need of instant relief, here are some ways to cool down fast:

• Turn on your air conditioning. If your home does not have air conditioning, contact your local health department or find an air-conditioned building in your neighborhood.
• Carry a portable fan and use it when you get hot.
• Dress in layers, and take off your top layers when you get hot.
• Drink cold water.
• Take a cool bath or shower.
• Place a cool washcloth or sponge over your forehead.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Feeling hot or sweaty from time to time can be normal, depending on where you are and what you're doing. Some people are also more predisposed to sweating more or "run hotter" than others. But if you notice a change in how often you feel hot—or you feel hot long or often enough for it to affect you quality of life—make an appointment with a healthcare provider. They can figure out if there's a condition that's making you uncomfortable.

You should also contact a healthcare provider if you have a fever that stays at or keeps going over 103 degrees Fahrenheit. You'll also want to make an appointment if a fever lasts longer than two or three days or if it comes and goes for a week or so.

Sometimes, if your body doesn't regulate your internal temperature well enough, you can experience heat-related illness. Because heat-related illness can cause serious complications, it's important to get medical help. Signs of heat-related illness include:

• Body temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit
• Fainting or dizziness
• Irregular or fast heart rate
• Damp or clammy skin
• Chest pain
• Nausea or vomiting

If your internal body temperature is too high when you get to the medical office, they can provide treatments to rapidly cool down the body, such as a cool water bath or cooling blanket.

A Quick Review

It's normal for humans to feel hot some of the time, but if you're always hot, there could be an underlying condition at play that prevents your body from properly cooling itself. Some reasons for feeling hot all the time include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, menopause, pregnancy, fever, and anhidrosis. Certain medications can also make you feel hotter.

Being hot more often than usual can negatively affect your quality of life. Fortunately, there are many ways to find relief from the uncomfortableness. Managing the underlying condition, taking medication, making changes to your medication, or adopting certain lifestyle habits can help prevent you from getting hot. If you're hot and need to cool down, you can also take measures to get immediate relief, like drinking cold water or taking a cool shower.