RELATED: If You’re Over 65, Never Eat These 4 Foods, CDC Warns. A hot day can affect anyone, but older people are at higher risk than most. According to the CDC, people over the age of 65 are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes how the body normally responds to heat. This includes age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands, as well as heart, lung, and kidney diseases, per the National Institute of Health (NIH). The CDC says that people this age are also more likely to be taking medications that affect the body’s ability to control its temperature or sweat. According to the NIH, this includes medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and certain heart and blood pressure drugs. Both these medical conditions and medications put people over 65 more at risk for developing a heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. When you’re older, it’s imperative that you stay cool and hydrated in hot weather to avoid heat-related illnesses. The CDC says this requires avoiding four mistakes that could make you and your home even hotter: relying on a fan as your main cooling source, waiting to drink water until you’re thirsty, using your stove or oven to cook, and engaging in strenuous activities. According to the CDC, an electric fan will not prevent heat-related illness once the temperature is in the high 90s, and both the stove and oven can add heat to your entire house. Waiting to drink water until you are thirsty and engaging in strenuous activities on a hot day can also make it harder for your body to cool down, putting you at risk for dehydration. “If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather,” the agency recommends. RELATED: For more health advice delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. If you need to cool down, the CDC recommends changing into loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, taking cool showers or baths, and getting plenty of rest. If you need to go outside, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses will also prevent you from becoming dehydrated.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb You should do your best to stay in air-conditioned buildings when it’s hot outside. “If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat,” the CDC says. If this is not an option, “call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area,” the agency advises. You should have a friend or relative call to check on you at least twice a day during a heat wave if you’re over the age of 65, according to the CDC. They can help monitor you for heat-induced illnesses, which could result in confusion, lost consciousness, or even death. Some common symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke include heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, fast pulse, clammy skin, and muscle cramps. If you think you or someone else is having a heat stroke—which is indicative of a body temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher—you need to call 911 right away, as this is a medical emergency that can result in death. The CDC says that more than 600 people are killed by extreme heat in the U.S. ever year. RELATED: If You’re Over 65, Never Drink This While Eating, New Study Says.
