If you’re like many warm weather lovers, you spend a lot of time outside in the hot summer months. Perhaps you’re at the beach, playing sports, hiking beautiful trails throughout the Hudson Valley, or at a family picnic in the sun and humidity. All of a sudden, you start to sweat profusely. Maybe you feel light headed, weak, dizzy, and even a little nauseous. If you’re not careful, you might be experiencing one of summer’s biggest spoilers: heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. And it’s serious.
Consider this for a minute. In 2023, over 119,600 people visited emergency rooms for heat-related illnesses. And during the hottest summer months, July and August, twice as many people visited the ER than they did in May, June and September.*
According to the World Health Organization, the frequency—and the intensity—of heat related illnesses will continue to rise due to climate change. But there are steps everyone can take to minimize the danger. Which is why Premier Medical is sharing what to look out for, and how to protect yourself and others from heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
What is heat exhaustion?
Heat exhaustion is one of the three major heat-related illnesses, and it occurs when the body gets too hot and can’t cool itself down. Physically, your body is losing too much water and salt—usually due to excessive sweating. When this happens, you deplete important fluids and lose essential minerals in your body called electrolytes. And that’s when symptoms start to occur. Here are some signs of heat exhaustion to look out for:**
- dizziness or feeling faint
- cool and moist skin
- feeling tired
- blurred vision
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- rapid heartbeat and/or shallow breathing
- swollen ankles, feet, or hands
What can you do to treat heat exhaustion?
The most important thing is to get out of the heat and rest, preferably in air conditioning. For about an hour, take small sips of water or a sports drink. Avoid caffeine and alcohol because this can make heat exhaustion even worse! Remove tight or unnecessary clothing, take a cool shower or bath, and use fans or ice towels. Anything to cool yourself down. But if you don’t feel better within an hour, it’s important to seek medical help right away. Because untreated heat exhaustion can easily turn into heatstroke, a very serious condition.
What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke, also called sunstroke, is the most severe—and serious—type of heat-related illness. The temperature within your body can rise all the way up to 104 degrees or higher—and immediate emergency treatment is needed. Why? Because heatstroke is life-threatening and can cause permanent damage to the body. The symptoms of heatstroke sound similar to heat exhaustion, but are even more acute. Here’s what happens to the body when you have heatstroke:***
- throbbing headache
- dizziness or fainting
- confusion, agitation and slurred speech
- nausea or vomiting
- seizures or coma
- rapid breathing and increased pulse rate
Is heatstroke an actual stroke?
The answer is a wholehearted no—although many people confuse the two. Heatstroke and stroke are two very different conditions despite the fact that some symptoms appear similar. For example, in both cases, warning signs include confusion, dizziness, excruciating headache, and fainting.
But that’s where the similarities end. The common term “stroke” refers to decreased oxygen flow to an area of the brain, either caused by a blocked artery or burst blood vessel. Heatstroke, on the other hand, is all about body temperature reaching very dangerous and at times deadly levels.****
How to treat heatstroke
Heatstroke demands immediate medical attention and it’s important to call 911 or a local emergency services number if you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms. While waiting for emergency treatment to arrive, it’s important to cool the body in whatever means are available. This includes but isn’t limited to applying cooling methods—such as cool water from a garden hose or shower, ice packs, or cold towels—to the head, neck, armpits, and groin.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
The best way to avoid any heat-related illness is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Stay aware of the outside temperature and humidity, and balance your activities accordingly. It’s really that simple. If you must be outside in the extreme heat, due to your profession or unavoidable circumstances, take precautions not to overly exert yourself. Remain in the shade as much as you can, and carry plenty of fluids with you. If you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, immediately cool yourself down with water, fans, or air conditioning. Summer is the time to relax and enjoy – and stay healthy!
For more information on heat-related illnesses, and how to avoid them this summer, contact the Cardiology department at Premier Medical Group at 845-565-4400. We’re here to help.*****
*[https://abcnews.go.com/Health/er-visits-heat-illness-rose-2023-amid-record/story?id=109379852]
**[https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/heat-exhaustion]
***[https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html]
****[https://www.webmd.com/stroke/stroke]
***** [https://www.premiermedicalhv.com/specialties/cardiology/]