Young people's cardiovascular systems slow blood flow to the skin and muscles to make sure there is more flow to the brain to maintain consciousness. Older subjects cut flow to the gut and liver. Kenney and his research group have explored endurance training, estrogen replacement therapy, heat acclimation and hydration as counter measures to heat's effect on older people. They have found that regular exercise is effective and can increase skin blood flow and cardiac output. Heat acclimation and hydration also can help to mitigate heat's effects on the older heart.
Most heat illnesses occur during the first couple of exercise sessions in the heat.
Pay attention to your fluid intake when exercising in hot weather. If you think it may be too hot to exercise at a certain time of day, it probably is. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and emergency treatments. Prescription medication can affect thermoregulation in hot environments. Ask your physician about these effects.