heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting or fainting. Left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.
Heat stroke can cause an extremely high body temperature (over 103 degrees), rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and hot, dry skin that won’t sweat. It also can cause a person to lose consciousness.
It’s called “heat stroke” because people can exhibit symptoms, such as slurred speech or difficulty moving their limbs, that are similar to the symptoms of a regular stroke, Kurz notes.
“It’s not a stroke. But to a layperson, it may look like one,” he says.
How to prevent heat illness
To prevent heat illness, Kurz advises limiting strenuous activities, such as yard work or a long-distance run, to early in the day before the weather gets too hot, or late in the day when the sun’s going down. When working outdoors, “wear cool, loose-fitting clothes and a hat,” he suggests. “Stay in the shade, and take breaks.”
Kurz also cautions against drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages while exposed to excessive heat. “Those things will dehydrate you. Water is the best thing to drink.”
And, he says, especially when doing something strenuous outdoors, “Be absolutely sure you are well hydrated so you can generate sweat to evaporate and offload that heat.”
Treating heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion may be something that can be treated at home, Tanner adds. “Recognize heat is affecting your body” and get out of the sun and into a cool area where there is air conditioning or a misting fan, and hydrate, he says.
But heat stroke requires calling 911, Tanner adds. It’s not only potentially fatal, but it can cause liver or kidney damage or permanent neurological problems.
Some people – such as infants, toddlers and adults 65 and older – are more susceptible to heat-related illness. That’s because they may not be able to hydrate sufficiently or remove themselves from the heat without assistance, Kurz shares.
Some medications or health conditions that lead to dehydration also increase the risk of heat-related illness. For example, some people with diabetes may have damaged nerves and blood vessels that affect their sweat glands and prevent their bodies from cooling down effectively.
As temperatures continue to climb, Kurz says, “know how to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness and find ways to cool down.”
By American Heart Association