Stay Cool with POTS Dysautonomia, MS, thyroid conditions, and other forms of heat intolerance {Lifestyle Medicine}

Learn how to stay cool and deal with heat intolerance especially with POTS and other forms of Dysautonomia, MS, thyroid issues,or  other medical conditions!

{Lifestyle Medicine}

Stay cool with POTS and other forms of dysautonomia, MS, thyroid issues, and other medical conditions during hot weather to cope with heat intolerance! Read on for some of my favorite strategies to stay cool with POTS when the temperatures climb!

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Dysautonomia refers to several medical conditions including Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS syndrome) that cause an abnormality in the function of the autonomic nervous system. Since the autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating most of the largely “automatic” functions of the body, dysautonomia impacts the body’s ability to regulate temperature, heart rate, breathing, and sweating.

Many forms of dysautonomia like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS syndrome) can result in lightheadedness, fainting, unstable blood pressure, abnormal heart rates, malnutrition and other debilitating symptoms.

This post is part 4 of a series. For a general Overview of the Autonomic Nervous System check out part 1 here, learn more about the Various Forms of Dysautonomia in part 2 here, and check out what is in my Dysautonomia Survival Kit in part 3 here!

 

Heat Intolerance in Dysautonomia & Other Medical Conditions

Heat intolerance is a common issue for dysautonomia and POTS suffers as well as for many with MS and thyroid disorders. With dysautonomia, it can be difficult to regulate the body’s core temperature and adjust to changes or extremes in temperature.  There are several reasons it can be difficult to stay cool with POTS.

• Heat intolerance,
• the inability to sweat (anhidrosis) and/or excess sweating (hyperhidrosis), and
• heat causes blood vessels to dilate (widen).

These issues make it more difficult for the body to adapt to excessive heat and stay cool with POTS. Heat intolerance and imbalanced sweating can induce fainting, nausea, and dehydration. Blood vessel dilation can contribute to blood pooling, edema, and changes in heart rate and blood pressure.

Ways to Stay Cool with POTS

Due to the impacts of heat intolerance, it is important to utilize a variety of ways to stay cool with POTS and prevent exacerbation of symptoms. Dysautonomia management requires a multidisciplinary and multi-pronged approach to address any underlying contributing conditions as well as modulating symptoms, and this is key when taking steps to stay cool with POTS during hot weather as well.

Personal Cooling Devices to Stay Cool with POTS

Maintaining a stable body temperature to stay cool with POTS can help reduce symptoms of dysautonomia. In addition to central air conditioning, handheld misters, personal fans and hats (affiliate links), personal cooling devices help some people with dysautonomia better regulate the temperature in their personal space.

For example, I use this EvaChill portable evaporative air cooler (affiliate link) to modulate the temperature in my workspace. This product uses evaporative technology to chill the air with water, so it works best in low humidity climates and can act as a humidifier in dry climates as well. You simply add filtered water in a reservoir that is soaked up into an evaporative pad, air is blown through the pad, and as it evaporates it cools the air which is blown into your personal space. The EvaChill creates a personal comfort zone where you need it most, covering up to 33 square feet with the most effective cooling right in front of the device. It is freon-free, and the inorganic evaporative pad does not feed bacteria or mold. There is also a filter that removes dust particles to increase air quality.

Keep up with Hydration to Stay Cool with POTS

Staying hydrated is a key lifestyle medicine strategy for coping with dysautonomia. This is especially true during hot weather when it is more difficult to maintain adequate hydration. Heat can contribute to blood vessel dilation that exacerbates blood pooling as well as increased fluid loss through sweating.

Increased fluid and salt intake are valuable for many who have blood pooling, hypovolemia/low blood volume, or hypotension related to dysautonomia (Abed, Ball & Wang, 2012). A fluid intake of approximately two liters per day (Grubb B.P., 2008) is often recommended, but this must be individualized under the guidance of a health care professional. Discuss your individual fluid needs with your physician and how your hydration requirements may need to be adjusted during hotter weather.

To make sure I have safe pure water no matter where I am, I always carry my Insulated Clearly Filtered Stainless Steel Filter Water Bottle with me. These innovative water bottles can help you stay cool with POTS since they are insulated to keep water cold for many hours without refrigeration. You can fill it up from any source and still have safe water thanks to the replaceable Affinity Filtration Technology which removes up to 99% of fluoride, chlorine, lead, and other common contaminants including mercury, herbicides, and pesticides. 

Clearly Filtered offers a variety of filtered water bottles to meet your needs for clean water on-the-go. I usually tote my 20 oz Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle or their new 12 oz Junior Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle everywhere I go!

Since the Clearly Filtered Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle is an essential for me and many of my clients, I wanted to give some of you a chance to try one out too! Clearly Filtered is generously partnering with me for a giveaway of both their 20 oz Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle and their new 12 oz Junior Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle!

To enter to win the 20 oz Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle head over to my Instagram page @simplepurewhole. To enter to win the 12 oz Junior Insulated Stainless Steel Filtered Water Bottle keep reading and enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. (Giveaways have closed).

 

Wearable Cooling Gear to Stay Cool with POTS

Cooling towels or body cooling vests (affiliate links) can help to modulate body temperature by chilling pulse points in key blood vessels to aid the body’s natural temperature regulation mechanisms. For example, this wearable bamboo cooling towel targets pulse points in the neck to help the body stay cooler longer in hot temperatures. 

Depending on the temperature, humidity, and sun intensity, your clothing choices can also impact how well you stay cool with POTS. Light-colored loose-fitting UV sun protective clothing like sun shirts in a wicking fabric transfer sweat away from your skin and block UV rays from the sun hitting you and keep your skin cooler.

Don’t Forget About Electrolytes to Stay Cool with POTS

Sodium and other electrolytes play a major role in maintaining fluid balance and blood volume in the body. Sweating in hot temperatures can speed up the body’s loss of salts along with water.

An intake of three to five grams of sea salt (affiliate link) or more for some individuals is typically recommended per day to help those with hypovolemic symptoms of POTS, although this should be individualized for each person based on many factors. Salt should of course be avoided in those with kidney disease or heart failure and is not appropriate for those with hyperadrenergic POTS. 

For some added natural flavor and phytonutrients, I like to add some natural sea salt (affiliate link) to this lemon cucumber water. Water-abundant produce like cucumbers, strawberries, melons, celery, zucchini and lettuces are hydrating as well. You can incorporate water-rich fruits and veggies into your diet in many ways to stay well-hydrated all summer long. These healthy options provide minerals, vitamins, fiber and hydrating to keep you satiated and healthy. 

Enter to win the Giveaway for a 12oz Clearly Filtered Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle!

(Giveaway Closed)

Complete as may or as few of the entry options as you choose! You can also enter the second giveaway on Instagram here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Ends 8/26/20, One (1) winner from the blog giveaway will receive one (1) 12 oz Junior Clearly Filtered Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, an approximately $45 retail value. Only open to US shipping addresses. Must be 18 or older to enter. No purchase is necessary; a purchase will not improve one’s chances of winning. Contest runs from August 12, 2020 12am EST to August 26, 2020 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen randomly via the Rafflecopter platform and the winner will be contacted by email to provide a name and shipping address for prize delivery. Clearly Filtered has provided the prize but has not further sponsored this giveaway. Void where prohibited. The giveaway is hosted by Rafflecopter who collects and processes data according to their Privacy Policy here https://www.rafflecopter.com/privacy-policy. Jennifer Weinberg and The Simple Pure Whole Wellness Method collect, process and use information according to our privacy policy which you can review here: www.JenniferWeinbergMD.com/legal

Additionally, One (1) winner from the Instagram giveaway will receive 20 oz Clearly Filtered Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, an approximately $50 retail value. Only open to US shipping addresses. Must be 18 or older to enter. No purchase is necessary; a purchase will not improve one’s chances of winning. Contest runs from August 12, 2020 12am EST to August 26, 2020 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen randomly.

How do you stay cool with POTS?

Have you tried any of these ways to stay cool with POTS?