5. Heat Intolerance: A Surprising Manifestation
If you find yourself feeling unusually intolerant to heat, it could be more than just a disdain for the summer months. Heat intolerance is a lesser-known but significant symptom of peripheral neuropathy. Why would nerve damage result in this symptom, you ask? Well, it boils down to how your body regulates temperature.
Your nervous system plays a pivotal role in maintaining your body’s internal environment, including temperature regulation. When peripheral nerves get damaged, this regulatory function gets disrupted, leading to symptoms like heat intolerance.
Individuals with peripheral neuropathy may experience excessive sweating or a lack of sweating, known as anhidrosis. They might also feel a sense of warmth or even burning, particularly in the lower extremities. It’s worth noting that these symptoms can contribute to discomfort and affect an individual’s quality of life.
Heat intolerance can be an early sign of autonomic neuropathy, a subtype of peripheral neuropathy that affects the nerves controlling the heart, bladder, digestive system, sweat glands, and eyes. It’s a symptom that demands attention as it indicates that the neuropathy is advancing. (5)
