Bodies are unique, and some may just run a little hotter than others. Exercise is a good example. Some people are dry after a bike lesson, others get soaked after a flight of stairs. It’s important to note that these personal differences have little to do with how fit you are. However, feeling hotter than usual without a clear cause can sometimes be a sign of something else at stake. Here I will show you why am I always hot and others? And its possible causes & symptoms.
Why am I always hot and others? Common causes
1. Stress or anxiety
Feeling unusually hot and sweating can be a sign of severe anxiety or stress.
Your sympathetic nervous system plays a role in both your sweating and your physical response to emotional stress. If you experience moderate to severe social anxiety, for example, you may be familiar with these physical fight-or-flight reactions when faced with a large crowd.
You may notice an increased heart rate and breathing, increased body temperature, and sweating. These may be physical reactions that take place to move quickly.
The emotional symptoms of anxiety include panic, fear, and worry which can be difficult to control.
Other physical symptoms of stress and anxiety include:
- blush
- sweaty hands
- tremor
- headache
- stuttering
Find out more about how to deal with anxiety.
2. Thyroid
It is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the neck that releases thyroid hormones, which play a main role in your metabolism.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid is overactive. This can lead to various physical changes. The most noticeable will be the unexplained weight loss and a rapid or irregular heart rate.
Hyperthyroidism puts your metabolism into overdrive, which can also lead to an unusually hot feeling and excessive sweating.
Other symptoms of an overactive thyroid include:
- heart palpitations
- increased appetite
- nervousness or anxiety
- slight hand tremors
- exhaustion
- changes in your hair
- difficulty sleeping
If you have symptoms of hyperthyroidism, contact your healthcare professional for a thyroid function test.
3. Medication side effects
Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause excessive heat and sweating, including:
- zinc supplements and other medicines containing zinc
- some antidepressants, including desipramine (Norpramin) and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- hormonal drugs
- antibiotics
- pain relievers
- heart and blood pressure medications
Some medications tend to cause heat or sweating in a very small percentage of people, so it can be very difficult to check if another medication you are taking might be.
To be sure, ask your health care provider if any medications you are taking could be causing the problem.
4. Food and drinks
Sure, it makes sense for your body to warm up when you drink hot soup, but what about a frozen margarita?
Common foods and drinks that can raise your body temperature include:
- spicy dishes
- caffeine
- alcohol
All of these factors can cause your body to be overactive, which increases your heart rate and makes you blush with heat and sweat.
Spicy foods also usually contain hot peppers, which contain capsaicin, a natural chemical that raises your body temperature and makes you sweat and tear.
Other reasons for why am I always hot and others
5. Anhidrosis
If you regularly feel overheated but don’t sweat or sweat a little, you may be suffering from a condition called anhidrosis.
Anhidrosis is a condition where you don’t sweat as much as your body needs, which can lead to overheating.
Other symptoms of anhidrosis include:
- an inability to calm down
- muscle cramps
- Vertigo
- blush
If you tend to get hot but don’t notice a lot of sweat, see your healthcare professional so they can determine if you have hidrosis.
6. Fibromyalgia
The summer months can be tough for people with fibromyalgia, a widespread painful disorder that wreaks havoc on the body.
People with this condition tend to have an increased sensitivity to temperature, whether hot or cold.
If you have fibromyalgia, you may also experience an increased physiological reaction to temperature, which may include excessive sweating, hot flashes, and swelling. It probably has something to do with changes in the autonomic nervous system, which helps regulate body temperature.
Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
- Body pain that lasts more than three months.
- exhaustion
- difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Does that remind you of something ? Read more on how to get diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
7. Multiple sclerosis (MS)
If you have MS, you may be exceptionally sensitive to heat. Even a slight increase in body temperature can cause your MS symptoms to start or get worse.
Hot, humid days are especially difficult, but this worsening of symptoms can also occur after a hot bath, fever, or intense training.
Symptoms usually return to baseline once you have calmed down. Less often, people with MS may experience what is called a paroxysmal symptom, such as a sudden hot flash.
8. Diabetes
Diabetes can also make you feel hotter than other people.
People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are more sensitive to heat than other people. This is especially true for people with poor blood sugar control and who have complications, such as nerve damage and damage to blood vessels.
People with diabetes also get dehydrated easily, which can worsen the effects of heat and increase blood sugar levels.
Other symptoms of diabetes include:
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- exhaustion
- Vertigo
- poor healing
- blurry vision
If you think you have diabetes, it is important to get a proper diagnosis from your healthcare professional so that you can develop a management plan.
9. Age
Older adults feel heat differently from younger adults. If you are around 65 or older, your body might not adapt to temperature changes as quickly as it used to. This means that hot and humid weather can do more damage than before.
Why am I always hot? Causes in women
10. Menopause
Hot flashes are the most common symptom of menopause, occurring in 3 in 4 people. Hot flashes are most common the year before and the year after your last period, but they can last up to 14 years.
Doctors aren’t sure why hot flashes are so common during the menopausal transition, but it has something to do with hormonal changes.
During hot flashes, you might experience one of the below:
- sudden feeling of intense heat, especially in the upper body
- flushing or redness on the face and neck
- red spots on the arms, back, or chest
- heavy sweating
- cold chills after hot flashes
11. Perimenopause
Menopause officially begins when you go 12 months without your period. The previous years are known as perimenopause.
During this transition period, your hormone levels fluctuate without warning. When your hormone levels drop, you may experience symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.
Perimenopause usually begins in your mid to late forties and lasts about four years.
Other signs of perimenopause include:
- missed or irregular periods
- longer or shorter periods than usual
- unusually light or heavy periods
12. Primary ovarian failure
Primary ovarian failure, also called premature ovarian failure, occurs when your ovaries stop working properly before the age of 40.
When your ovaries aren’t working properly, they don’t make enough estrogen. This can cause premature symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.
Other signs of ovarian failure in women under 40 include:
- irregular or missed periods
- vaginal dryness
- difficulty getting pregnant
- decreased sexual desire
- difficulty concentrating
If you have symptoms of menopause and are under 40, make an appointment with your healthcare professional.
13. Premenstrual Syndrome
PMS is the set of physical and emotional symptoms that affect most women in the days before their period.
During this period of the reproductive cycle (after ovulation and before menstruation), hormone levels reach their lowest point. These hormonal drops can cause many symptoms, ranging from cramping and bloating to depression and anxiety.
For some, low estrogen can lead to a symptom more often associated with menopause: hot flashes.
PMS-related hot flashes can appear in the week before your period. They look like an intense heat wave that starts in the middle of the section and travels up to the face and neck. You may also experience profuse sweating, followed by cooling.
14. Pregnancy
Although hot flashes are usually associated with low hormone levels, they are also very common during pregnancy.
Hormonal fluctuations that occur at different times during and after pregnancy can affect the way your body regulates temperature, which can make you feel warm and sweaty generally more than normal.
Brief, intense episodes of overheating during or after pregnancy are best described as hot flashes. Research suggests that as many as35 percent of women may experience hot flashes during their pregnancy.
When to consult a doctor?
If you think you have any of the above conditions, make an appointment with your healthcare professional.
If you’ve always been someone who “flows freely” or sweats more than those around you, then there is probably nothing to worry about.
However, if you notice a recent change, such as the onset of hot flashes or night sweats, it is important to see your healthcare professional.
See your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- regular, unexplained night sweats
- dizziness or fainting
- unexplained weight loss
- irregular or rapid heartbeat
- chest pain
- sharp pain
I hope you will understand the question, “Why am I always hot?” If you have any questions, do ask us in the comment box.
Also Related: How To Give Yourself A Fever – 7 Safe Tricks
5 tips for cooling off when it’s very hot
1. Spray yourself with water …In the right places
If it seems obvious to get wet to cool off, you still need to know where to aim. Because to be effective, the best is to target the pulse points or pressure points, where the blood vessels are flush with the closest. Run water for at least 10 seconds on:
- temples
- inside elbows
- behind the knees
- inside elbows
Thus, this should help bring your temperature down more quickly.
2. Amplify the wind chill
To do this, two things: a fan and a fogger.
- Step 1: spray your face and / or body.
- Step 2 : start the fan.
Simple and effective: Indeed, the combination of moisture on the skin and wind chill (otherwise the feeling of cold produced by the wind on a warm-blooded organism without variation in the temperature of the ambient air) makes it possible to lower the temperature . And that’s also why in winter, we are colder when there is wind and / or when we are wet.
If you’re at home, amplify this effect by taking a cool shower before drying off in front of the fan.
3. Wet your hair
We do not think about it enough, but this simple gesture quickly and reliably provides a healthy feeling of freshness.
4. Wear a wet hat / Headband
For a long lasting effect, complete with a hat / cap if you are outdoors or a headband indoors. Otherwise, a handkerchief or scarf previously cooled in the freezer gives a pleasant effect.
5. Invest in a mini fan
Yes, this little device allows you to ventilate without winding, unlike the fan. Useful for a little cooler, the fan ends up warming up since it is our wrists the motors … which therefore end up heating up. For a double freshness effect, you can place two bottles of water previously chilled in the freezer in front of the fan blades. Guaranteed freshness effect!
