As our body starts aging, it loses the capability to regulate the heat by itself. Moreover, sweat is one of the vital components of our body that aid in controlling the temperature of our body. But with aging, we sweat less than younger adults, which is why the elderly are more prone to heat illness. Moreover, with age, our body starts storing fat in different parts of the body. This makes it even harder to regulate the heat and is thus prone to summer risks.

As the summer starts increasing, our internal body temperature starts rising when we are exposed directly to a hot environment or the sun. And that is when our body starts sweating for keeping the internal temperature under control. But as the elderly lose the capability to sweat like the young adults, they get prone to certain summer risks such as sunstroke.

The scorching heat during the summers leaves our bodies dehydrated. So, during the summers, it is essential for us to keep our body hydrated as it is the best way to keep our body protected from the heat waves. If our body gets dehydrated, it loses the capability to control its temperature. This eventually higher the chances of getting struck by heat illness. And elderly people are prone to summer risks.
In a survey, it has been found that more than 40 percent of people who died due to heat illness are senior citizens. Therefore, it is vital for senior citizens to protect themselves from the blazing heat of the summer.

Apart from aging, there are certain other factors that contribute to the various heat illnesses such as:

• Various chronic illnesses such as heart or kidney diseases as well as blood circulation conditions.
• Dehydration
• Overdressing
• Prescribed medicines that close the sweat glands
• Salt-restricted diets
• Minimal access to air conditioning or airflow
• Living in specific regions where the temperature can go beyond normal

How to detect heat-related issues in adults?

The earliest signs of summer risks related health issues in elderly adults that can lead to heat stroke are tiredness, weakness, sudden excessive sweating, muscle cramp, dizziness, as well as headaches. But as the conditions start getting severe, further symptoms can start showing such as vomiting, fainting, nausea, and others. So, if you detect any of the above symptoms, you should take them to medical supervision as immediately as possible as heat stroke can set in within 10–15 minutes after the signs start showing up.

Before any medical help arrives, what you can do to help them is by assisting the elderly adults in lying down in a cold environment and putting a fan above them directly that will improve their body to cool down rapidly. Or, you can take them to an air-conditioned room and start providing cooling fluids. A cold bath can also help them to lower their body temperature rapidly.