Why do I feel hot but have no fever? 13 causes

People may feel hot without a fever for many reasons. Some causes may be temporary and easy to identify, such as eating spicy foods, a humid ... MedicalNewsTodayHealthConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribeWhydoIfeelhotbuthavenofever?MedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHT—WrittenbyBethSissonsonJune17,2020CheckingforfeverEnvironmentalcausesMedicalcausesOthercausesTreatmentWhentoseeadoctorSummaryTherearemanyreasonswhysomeonemightfeelhotbuthavenofever.Environmentalandlifestylefactors,medications,age,hormones,andemotionalstateallhaveanimpact.Insomecases,feelingcontinuouslyhotmaysignalanunderlyinghealthcondition.Dependingonthecause,apersonwhofeelshotmaysweatexcessivelyornotsweatatall.Theymaylookhot,withflushedorirritatedskin,ortheirskinmaylookunchanged.Inthisarticle,welookat13possiblecausesforfeelinghotwithoutafever,treatmentoptions,andwhentoseeadoctor.Howhotisafever?ShareonPinterestHotweathercanaffectpeopleindifferentways.Apersoncancheckthattheydonothaveafeverbyusingathermometertomeasuretheirbodytemperature.Adigitalthermometeristhebestoptionasglassonescanbedangerous.TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)recommendthatpeoplemeasuretheirtemperaturewhentheyarenottakingfever-reducingmedications,suchasibuprofenoracetaminophen(Tylenol).Ifanadult’sbodytemperatureis100.4°F(38°C)orhigher,theyhaveafever.However,iftheirbodytemperatureisnormal,at98.6°F(37°C),thentheydonothaveafever.Achildwillhaveafeveriftheirtemperatureis99.5°F(37.5°C).Findoutmoreaboutfeversinadultsandchildrenhere.EnvironmentalorlifestylecausesManylifestyleandenvironmentalfactorscanmakeapersonfeelhotbutnotproduceatemperature.Factorsinclude:Heat-relatedillnessHotorhumidweatheristaxingforthebodyandmayaffectsomepeoplemorethanothers.Inhotweather,apersonmightfeelirritable,tired,orfinditdifficulttoconcentrate.Insomecases,extremetemperaturesorprolongedexposuretothesuncancauseheat-relatedhealthconditions,suchassunburn,heatexhaustion,andlesscommonly,heatstroke.Sunburnoccurswhenthesundamagestheskin,causingittofeelhotandsore.Heatexhaustionoccurswhenapersonlosestoomuchwaterandsaltthroughsweating.AccordingtotheCDC,symptomsofheatexhaustioninclude:heavysweatingcold,clammyskinnauseaorvomitingtirednessorweaknessaheadachedizzinessmuscleweaknessorcrampingChildrenwithheatexhaustionmaybeexcessivelytired,thirsty,andhavecool,clammyskin.Apersonwithheatexhaustionshouldcooldown,drinkfluids,andstopallphysicalactivityuntiltheyfeelbetter.Ifapersondoesnotcooldownorgetbetterwithin1hour,theyshouldseekmedicalhelpimmediately.Untreatedheatexhaustioncanturnintoheatstroke,whichcanbelifethreatening.Symptomsincludeconfusion,skinthatishot,dry,orchangescolor,fainting,orunconsciousness.Ifapersonhassignsofheatstroke,call911rightaway.Learnmoreaboutthedifferencesbetweenheatexhaustionandheatstroke.ExerciseorstrenuousactivityExercisingorcarryingoutphysicaltaskscanincreaseaperson’sbodyheat,particularlyifthey:arenotusedtoexercisingregularlyexerciseorcarryoutphysicaltasksinhotorhumidenvironmentsoverexertthemselvesTheCDCstatethatathleteswhotraininhotweathertolookoutforthesignsofheat-relatedillnessesandtostoptrainingiftheyfeelweakorfaint.Avoidingexerciseatthehottesttimesoftheday,drinkingmorewater,andpacingmayhelppeopleavoidbecomingtoohotduringexercise.FoodanddrinkCertainfoodsanddrinkscanmakepeoplefeelhotterthanusual.Theseinclude:alcoholcaffeinespicyfoodfoodandbeverageswithahightemperaturePeoplemayfeelextraheatintheirskinorsweatmorethanusual,during,andafterconsumingthesefoods.ClothingTight,restrictive,ordarkclothingmayincreasebodyheatandpreventaircirculationaroundtheskin.Syntheticfibersmayalsotrapheatandpreventsweatfromevaporating.Thiscancauseexcessivewarmthandincreasedsweating.MedicalcausesArangeofconditionsanddisorderscanalsocausesomeonetofeelhot.Theseinclude:AnxietyWhenapersonfeelsstressedoranxious,theymayexperiencephysicalsymptoms,includingfeelinghotandsweaty.Thishappensduringthe“fightorflight”response,whichincreasestheperson’sheartrateandbloodsupplytotheirmuscles.Apersonwhoisfeelinganxiousorstressedmayalsonotice:increasedheartrateheartpalpitationstensemusclesrapidbreathingLearnmoreabouthowanxietyaffectsthebody.HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidismoccurswhenaperson’sthyroidglandbecomesoveractiveandmakestoomanythyroidhormones.Thyroidhormonesaffecthowthebodyusesenergy.Peoplewithhyperthyroidismoftenexperienceheatintolerance,alongwithothersymptomssuchas:shakyhandsarapidorirregularheartbeatdiarrheaorfrequentbowelmovementsdifficultysleepingfatigueLearnmoreabouthyperthyroidism.AnhidrosisSweatingishowthebodykeepscool.Anhidrosisdescribestheinabilitytosweat.Thissymptomcanaffectasmallorlargeareaofthebody.Itmaybeduetoanunderlyingcondition,amedication,orblockedorinjuredsweatglands.Ifsomeonecannotsweatatall,orcannotsweatacrossalargeareaoftheirbody,thiscouldbedangerous.Apersonwiththissymptomshouldspeaktoadoctor.DiabetesAccordingtotheInternationalDiabetesFederation,peoplewithdiabetesmayfeelmoresensitivetotheheatthanothers.Thishappensforseveralreasons:Dehydration:Peoplewithdiabetesbecomedehydratedmorequicklyduringhotweather.Notdrinkingenoughliquidscanalsoraisebloodglucoselevels,whichcausesapersontourinatemore.Thisexacerbatesdehydrationfurther.Complications:Diabetescancausecomplicationsthatdamagethebloodvesselsandnerves,which,inturn,mayaffectaperson’ssweatglands.Thismaymeanapersonsweatsless,makingitmoredifficultforthemtostaycool.AccordingtotheCDC,symptomsofdiabetesinclude:frequenturination,especiallyatnightfeelingverythirstyandhungryblurryvisiontinglinginhandsorfeetfatigueunintentionalweightlossOthercausesPeoplemayfeelhotforavarietyofotherreasons,including:PregnancyandmenstrualcyclesAccordingtotheNationalHealthServiceintheUnitedKingdom,itisrelativelycommonforpregnantwomentofeelhotterthanusual.Thisoccursduetohormonalchanges,whichincreasebloodsupplytotheskin’ssurface.Pregnantwomenmayalsosweatmore.Itiscommonfortemperaturetoriseduringtheovulationstageofthemenstrualcycle.MenopauseandperimenopauseFemalesmayexperiencehotflashesduring,before,andafterthemenopause.AccordingtotheNationalInstituteonAging(NIA),hotflashesoccurduetochangingestrogenlevels.Hotflashesmaylastanywherefrom30secondsto10minutes.Othersymptomsofahotflashinclude:flushedskinonthefaceandneckexcessivesweatingnightsweats,whichmaydisruptsleepfeelingcoldorshiveryafterwardLearnmoreaboutrecognizingthesignsofmenopause.MedicationsTheInternationalHyperhidrosisSocietylistawiderangeofmedicationsthatcancauseheatorsweatingasasideeffect.Medicationsthatmightcauseapersontofeelhotinclude:analgesics,suchasnaproxen(Aleve)andtramadolcardiovasculardrugs,suchasamlodipineandlosartanhormonaldrugs,suchasthyroidmedicationandtestosteronegastrointestinaldrugs,suchasomeprazoleoratropineskintreatments,suchaslidocaineorisotretinoinpsychiatricdrugs,suchastranquilizersandfluoxetine(Prozac)someantibioticsandantiviraldrugsIfapersonthinksthattheirmedicationmightbecausingsideeffects,theycanspeaktotheirdoctortodiscusstheiroptions.TreatmentThetreatmentforfeelinghotwithoutafeverdependsontheunderlyingcause.Peoplewhofeelhotduetoenvironmentalorlifestylefactors,suchassunexposure,mayfeelbetteriftheyadjusttheirdailyroutines.TheCDCrecommend:wearinglightweight,pale,loose-fittingclothingstayinginair-conditionedspacestakingacoolshowerorbathdrinkingplentyoffluidsandreplacingelectrolyteslostthroughsweatavoidingspicyfoods,caffeine,andalcoholThesestrategiesmayalsohelppregnantwomenandthosewhoareexperiencinghotflashes.Peoplewhofeelhotduetoanxietyorstressmayalsobenefitfromrelaxationtechniquesthatcalmthenervoussystem.Theseincludedeepbreathing,yoga,andtaichi.Stresscanexacerbatehotflashes,sothesetechniquesmayalsohelppeopleinperimenopauseormenopause,accordingtotheNIA.Apersonexperiencingfrequentanxiousthoughtsmayfindaformoftherapy,suchascognitivebehavioraltherapy(CBT),helpfulforreducingthephysicalsymptomsofanxiety.However,ifthesestrategiesdonothelp,theymayhaveaconditionthatrequiresmedicaltreatment.WhentoseeadoctorIfsomeonefrequentlyorcontinuouslyfeelshotwithnofever,theyshouldseetheirdoctor.Adoctormayneedtoperformtests,suchasbloodorurinetests,todiagnosetheunderlyingcause.Ifsomeonehassymptomsofheatexhaustionthatdonotimprovewithinanhourorthesymptomsofheatstroke,theyshouldseekemergencyhelp.SummaryPeoplemayfeelhotwithoutafeverformanyreasons.Somecausesmaybetemporaryandeasytoidentify,suchaseatingspicyfoods,ahumidenvironment,orstressandanxiety.However,somepeoplemayfeelhotfrequentlyfornoapparentreason,whichcouldbeasymptomofanunderlyingcondition.Ifpeopleareunsurewhytheyarefeelinghotwithnofever,theycanseetheirdoctor.LastmedicallyreviewedonJune17,2020DiabetesEndocrinologyMenopauseAnxiety/StressCardiovascular/CardiologyPregnancy/Obstetrics14sourcescollapsedMedicalNewsTodayhasstrictsourcingguidelinesanddrawsonlyfrompeer-reviewedstudies,academicresearchinstitutions,andmedicaljournalsandassociations.Weavoidusingtertiaryreferences.Welinkprimarysources—includingstudies,scientificreferences,andstatistics—withineacharticleandalsolistthemintheresourcessectionatthebottomofourarticles.Youcanlearnmoreabouthowweensureourcontentisaccurateandcurrentbyreadingoureditorialpolicy.Anhidrosis(inabilitytosweat).(n.d.).https://www.sweathelp.org/where-do-you-sweat/other-sweating/anhidrosis-no-sweating.htmlCommondrugs/medicationsknowntocausediaphoresis.(n.d.).https://www.sweathelp.org/pdf/Diaphoretic_Class.pdfCommonhealthproblemsinpregnancy.(2018).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/common-pregnancy-problems/Definitionsofsymptomsforreportableillnesses.(2017).https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/air/reporting-deaths-illness/definitions-symptoms-reportable-illnesses.htmlDiabetessymptoms.(2020).https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.htmlHeatandathletes.(2019).https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/athletes.htmlHotflashes:WhatcanIdo?(2017).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-doHyperthyroidism.(2016).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hyperthyroidism#symptomsSnouffer,E.(2019).Heatanddiabetesareadangerouscombination.https://diabetesvoice.org/en/living-with-diabetes/extreme-heat-and-diabetes/Stayhomewhenyouaresick.(2019).https://www.cdc.gov/flu/business/stay-home-when-sick.htmTipsforpreventingheat-relatedillness.(2017).https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.htmlUnderstandingthestressresponse.(2018).https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-responseWarningsignsandsymptomsofheat-relatedillness.(2017).https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.htmlWhatarethesignsandsymptomsofmenopause?(2017).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-and-symptoms-menopauseFEEDBACK:MedicallyreviewedbyDebraRoseWilson,Ph.D.,MSN,R.N.,IBCLC,AHN-BC,CHT—WrittenbyBethSissonsonJune17,2020RelatedCoverage10reasonsyouarealwayshotMedicallyreviewedbyStacySampson,D.O.Feelinghotterthanusualcanbeduetomedication,hormonalchanges,oritmaybeasignofanunderlyinghealthcondition.Readabout10possible…READMOREEverythingyouneedtoknowaboutheatintoleranceMedicallyreviewedbyElaineK.Luo,M.D.Heatintoleranceiswhensomeonefeelstoowarmintemperaturesthatotherpeoplefindcomfortable.Itcanbeamilddiscomfortorsignificantly…READMOREWhatisthedifferencebetweenheatstrokeandheatexhaustion?MedicallyreviewedbyJudithMarcin,M.D.Heatstrokeandheatexhaustionaretwoconditionscausedbyspendingtimeinextremelyhotweather.Ifleftuntreated,heatexhaustioncanleadto…READMORESomatostatinomas:Riskfactors,diagnosis,andtreatmentMedicallyreviewedbyKellyWood,MDSomatostatinomasareatypeoftumor.Theyaffectthepancreasbutrarelyhavenoticeablesymptoms.Learnaboutthecauses,diagnosis,treatment,and…READMORE