Heat intolerance and temperature sensitivity are often overlooked side effects of Fibromyalgia. They don’t kill you except in the most extreme situations, so doctors don’t typically address them. Or if they do address them, they simply advise you to stay inside and avoid the sun. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple. Heat intolerance itself has its own symptoms.
How heat intolerance can cause excessive sweating with Fibromyalgia
Another annoying Fibromyalgia symptom that often comes along with heat intolerance is sweating. It’s a gross subject that no one really wants to talk about, but it can be a problem. Sometimes it’s hard to know what causes excessive sweating. It can be a side effect of several different medications used to treat Fibromyalgia: such as Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica. It also just be a basic side effect of heat intolerance, or you could live in a terribly hot and humid climate (like a do), or it can be a combination of all the things. I know I’m not alone on the heat intolerance because I can get a lot of hits on my post: How to deal with heat and humidity when you have Fibromyalgia. Yet, no one really talks about it being a symptom.
I absolutely hate sweating. I know that sounds weird since I live in a somewhat tropical environment, but I’ll never get used to the gross feeling. It’s even worse when you’re inside the air conditioning and you’re still sweating. It’s actually embarrassing because normal bodies just don’t do that. I actively try to avoid being in situations where my sweat can be seen, but it’s not always easy.
Why do people with Fibromyalgia sometimes deal with excessive sweating along with heat intolerance?
1. Heat intolerance and temperature sensitivity with Fibromyalgia
Because of temperature sensitivity, people with Fibromyalgia/ME can experience extreme hot or cold, with no relationship to actual temperatures of their environment. Changing seasons causes flares, increases our pain levels, and wreaks havoc on our systems. Researchers theorize that this comes from a damaged autonomic nervous system that is in charge of our body’s homeostasis (the ability to keep temperatures at a normal range).
Because of temperature sensitivity, people with Fibromyalgia/ME can experience extreme hot or cold, with no relationship to actual temperatures of their environment. Click To TweetWe also learn from a 2013 study on people who don’t experience any pain that Fibromyalgia patients have extra nerves that sense temperatures (and pain) in the hands, feet, and face. These “AV shunts” may play a role in a patient’s temperature sensitivity. This may be why extreme temperatures, either cold or hot, can cause problems for Fibro patients.
Furthermore, we already know that people with Fibromyalgia are sensitive to overstimulation from light, sound, smells, touch, and especially pain, but they may also be sensitive to heat for the same reason.
People with Fibromyalgia are sensitive to overstimulation from light, sound, smells, touch, and especially pain, but they may also be sensitive to heat for the same reason. Click To Tweet2. Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction and heat intolerance with Fibromyalgia
This is a fun possible feature of Fibromyalgia. Some researchers tie Fibromyalgia to Autonomic Nervous System dysfunction, which is interestingly also a feature of Dysautonomia and POTS ( Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). The autonomic nervous system controls many functions of the body as well as the sympathetic nervous system that activates flight/fight response. This is tied to vasoconstriction that causes sweating and overheating (see below).
3. Medications: Antidepressants, pain relievers, and migraine medicines cause sweating and overheating
Antidepressants are often the first line of treatment for Fibromyalgia. As mentioned previously, Savella, Lyrica, and Cymbalta can all cause excessive sweating and overheating. However, they are not the only medications with these side effects. All classes of antidepressants are known to have the possibility of heavy sweating and overheating. Wellbutrin for example causes excessive sweating in 1 in 5 people taking it.
Antidepressants are often the first line of treatment for Fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, all classes of antidepressants are known to have the possibility of heavy sweating and overheating. Click To TweetSweating and overheating often happen with SSRIs, Tramadol (non-opioid pain meds), and migraine medication, because they increase serotonin levels in the brain, and that affects the hypothalamus that sets the temperature for the occurrence of sweating. They also impair the hypothalamus from regulating temperature correctly, which can lead to overheating. Other antidepressants and antipsychotics can cause norepinephrine in the brain to stimulate sweating and overheating.
Furthermore, Opioids also cause excessive sweating because they stimulate cells that release histamine (also involved in inflammation), and that causes sweating.
There is a scientific reason that causes people to sweat when anxious. Anxiety can actually change your body temperature, and hot weather can increase your anxiety. It feels like a circle of doom. Click To Tweet4. How anxiety can cause overheating and/or excessive sweating
I’ve always known that I overheat and sweat when I get anxious, but I figured that was just me being weird and living in a hot climate. However, there is a scientific reason that people sweat when anxious. Anxiety can actually change your body temperature, and hot weather can increase your anxiety. It all starts with:
Vasoconstriction/ Fight or Flight Response
Sounds fun, huh? I promise it’s more helpful than it sounds. Vasoconstriction is supposed to keep your body safe from harm as it’s tied to your “fight or flight” response. When you experience anxiety you have a misfiring fight/flight response and your blood vessels narrow (that’s the constriction part) blocking blood flow and heating up your body. Your body is dealing with a (perceived) danger.
Over-sensitivity
Because anxiety makes you perturbed and uncomfortable you’re more likely to notice and focus on excessive temperature if it exists. As far as heat goes, higher temperatures can cause symptoms of anxiety such as restlessness, palpitations, nausea, and tiredness. It’s like a large feedback loop of doom.
Sweating
Sweating is merely a response to vasoconstriction and fight/flight hormones. The hormones cause our breathing and heart to speed up, our blood pressure to rise, and our sweat glands to activate. It’s extremely annoying, but our body is reacting to protect itself. Our body is heating up, so it produces sweat to cool it down.
What can I do about heat intolerance and temperature sensitivity?
I’ve written before about how I manage heat and humidity in a tropical climate, but the truth is that doesn’t always help me. I’ve had to go off several medications that helped me because the overheating and the sweating were just too much. Yet, I still overheat with fans all over the house (in addition to AC), never drinking hot drinks, avoiding hot showers, and wearing cool clothing. It seems to me that this is a problem a just have to live with. However, after reading many medical studies, I now know the reason why.
Do you have problems with overheating or temperature sensitivity? How do you cope with it?
