\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nToo much exposure to heat and humidity can lead to heat-related illnesses that quickly progress from mild to severe. This is especially true if you become dehydrated, which happens when you don\u2019t ingest adequate fluids to replace the ones you\u2019re sweating out. Keep your eye out for these six heat-related illnesses this summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n1. Heat stroke<\/span><\/h3>\nThe most serious type of heat-related illness, heat stroke occurs when your body\u2019s ability to regulate its own temperature stops working. Your body temperature can climb past 104 F and quickly reach 106 F or more, which is too high for your brain and organs to tolerate. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Untreated heat stroke can lead to death or permanent disability.<\/span><\/p>\nHeat stroke is most common in hot and humid conditions during the summer months. Older adults and young children are more susceptible to heat stroke, as are people who overexert themselves in the heat, such as athletes and military trainees. In addition to a very high fever, warning signs of heat stroke include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n\nConfusion<\/span><\/li>\nDizziness<\/span><\/li>\nLoss of consciousness<\/span><\/li>\nNausea or vomiting<\/span><\/li>\nHeadache<\/span><\/li>\nFast, strong pulse<\/span><\/li>\nProfuse sweating followed by decreased sweat and hot, dry skin<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u201cHeat stroke is the most severe heat-related illness, identified by flushed, red skin, decreased sweat, internal temperature greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, fainting, shortness of breath, and seizures,\u201d Dr. Campagnolo says. \u201cIt can lead to cardiac arrest and death.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nCall 911 or get someone to a hospital emergency room right away if you think they might be experiencing heat stroke. First aid for heat stroke is aimed at cooling the person\u2019s body temperature back down to a normal range as quickly as you can. Move the person to a shaded, preferably air-conditioned place, if possible, and place cool cloths on their armpits, groin, head, and other hot spots. If you can, place the person in a bath of cold water or ice to cool the person\u2019s skin down until paramedics arrive. If the person is able to drink, give them small sips of cool water to help them rehydrate.<\/span><\/p>\n2. Heat exhaustion<\/span><\/h3>\nWhen you\u2019re in a hot environment and your body first starts to overheat, you may sweat heavily or have an elevated heart rate. These could be signs of heat exhaustion, a preventable illness that can progress to heat stroke if steps aren\u2019t taken to cool your body down.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOlder adults and young children are at higher risk of heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:<\/span><\/p>\n\nExcessive sweating<\/span><\/li>\nFast, weak pulse<\/span><\/li>\nNausea or vomiting<\/span><\/li>\nMuscle cramps<\/span><\/li>\nCold, pale, clammy skin<\/span><\/li>\nHeadache<\/span><\/li>\nTiredness or weakness<\/span><\/li>\nLight-headedness<\/span><\/li>\nFainting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf you suspect someone is experiencing heat exhaustion that might become heat stroke, seek medical attention right away. Otherwise, in most cases, you can treat heat exhaustion on your own.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe first step is to get the affected person into a cooler environment, whether in a shady area or indoors with air conditioning, if possible,\u201d says Campagnolo. Once the person is in a cool place, give them a damp cloth to hold on their forehead, and have them drink cold drinks to stay hydrated. Avoid caffeinated, sugary drinks and stick to cool water or sports drinks, which contain electrolytes like the ones lost in the sweating process. If necessary, have the person soak in a bath of cold water or ice. If these measures aren\u2019t enough to make the person feel better after an hour, seek medical care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
3. Rhabdomyolysis<\/span><\/h3>\nAlso known as rhabdo, rhabdomyolysis is a rare illness that occurs when muscle fibers break down or die rapidly and leak a protein called<\/span> myoglobin<\/span> into the body\u2019s circulatory system. Myoglobin is normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, but too much myoglobin can lead to kidney damage, kidney failure, and death. Rhabdo is included as a heat-related illness because heat stress and dehydration from hot conditions or physical activity can lead to muscle breakdown.<\/span><\/p>\nFirefighters and endurance athletes are among those who have a higher risk of rhabdo. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, which can range from mild to severe, include:<\/span><\/p>\n\nMuscle pain and tenderness<\/span><\/li>\nMuscle swelling or bruising<\/span><\/li>\nWeakness<\/span><\/li>\nFever<\/span><\/li>\nNausea or vomiting<\/span><\/li>\nDark or tea-colored urine<\/span><\/li>\nConfusion or delirium<\/span><\/li>\nLoss of consciousness<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRhabdomyolysis is an emergency situation that requires immediate medical attention. If you think someone has rhabdo, call 911 or get them to a hospital emergency room right away. In the meantime, get the person to move to a cool area, stop all activity, and drink extra fluids to stave off dehydration, which can make rhabdomyolysis worse.<\/span><\/p>\n4. Heat syncope<\/span><\/h3>\nA relatively mild form of heat-related illness, heat syncope is a fainting episode that often results in hot or humid conditions due to physical exertion, prolonged standing, or getting up quickly from a seated or lying position. The heat and other conditions cause a drop in blood pressure flowing to the brain, which causes you to faint.<\/span><\/p>\nDehydration or not being acclimated to the conditions or elevation can make heat syncope more likely. In addition to a brief loss of consciousness (syncope), symptoms of heat syncope can include:<\/span><\/p>\n\nDizziness or light-headedness<\/span><\/li>\nHeadache<\/span><\/li>\nIncreased heart rate<\/span><\/li>\nNausea or vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo treat heat syncope, have the person lie or sit down in a cool area, elevate their feet, and drink water or sports drinks. They should also take a break from any exertional activities until they\u2019ve had a chance to rehydrate and their symptoms are gone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n5. Heat cramps<\/span><\/h3>\nThese painful, involuntary muscle spasms usually affect athletes and workers who sweat a lot in hot, humid conditions. The sweat drains your body of salt and moisture, both of which your muscles need to function properly. Low salt levels in your muscles causes them to cramp up. Heat cramps and heavy sweating can also be signs of heat exhaustion.<\/span><\/p>\nTo treat heat cramps, move to a cool area, drink water or sports drinks, and stop any strenuous activity until long after the cramps have stopped. Gently stretch and massage the affected muscles\u2014most often the muscles of the arms, calves, back, or abdomen\u2014to help make the cramps stop. If the muscle cramps don\u2019t go away within an hour, call a healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n6. Heat rash<\/span><\/h3>\nSometimes called prickly heat or miliaria, <\/span>heat rash<\/span> is a skin rash that develops in hot and humid conditions when your pores become blocked and sweat can\u2019t escape. The resulting rash can be bumpy, red, or itchy and can range from mild to severe.<\/span><\/p>\nHeat rash is often caused by friction on your skin, which is why adults most often develop heat rash in places like their inner thighs and armpits, where skin rubs together. Babies tend to get heat rash more on their necks and in skin creases such as the ones at their elbows, thighs, and armpits. The symptoms of the rash will depend on which type of heat rash it is.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\nMiliaria crystallina<\/b>, the most common and mildest form of heat rash, causes small clear or white bumps that are filled with fluid and often burst open.<\/span><\/li>\nMiliaria rubra<\/b>, or prickly heat, occurs deeper in the skin and causes red bumps and itching or a prickly sensation in the affected area.<\/span><\/li>\nMiliaria pustulosa<\/b> occurs when the red blisters, or vesicles, of miliaria rubra become inflamed and filled with pus.<\/span><\/li>\nMiliaria profunda<\/b>, the least common kind of heat rash, occurs deep in the skin when retained sweat leaks out of the sweat gland and into the skin, causing larger, firm, flesh-colored bumps.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIn some cases, miliaria profunda can recur often and become chronic, but other than that, most cases of heat rash will go away on their own in a few days. To treat heat rash, stay in a cool, dry place, avoid sweating or exertion, and use baby powder rather than any creams or lotions to soothe the rash.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat can cause heat intolerance?<\/span><\/h2>\nExtreme heat and high humidity are the most obvious causes of heat-related illnesses, but what causes some people to be more susceptible to heat stress than others? Infants and children younger than 4 are at higher risk because a child\u2019s body\u2019s ability to regulate its own temperature hasn\u2019t fully developed yet. Adults 60 and older may also be at higher risk because their ability to regulate their body temperature may be diminished by age, illnesses, or the medications they may be taking to treat other medical conditions. <\/span>Medications<\/span> that can affect the body\u2019s ability to stay hydrated and respond to heat include beta blockers and diuretics taken to treat high blood pressure and heart problems, antihistamines taken for allergy symptoms, tranquilizers, and antipsychotics used to treat psychiatric symptoms.<\/span><\/p>\nPeople who are overweight or obese typically have more problems with hot weather and humid environments than people of a healthy weight. Others who may be more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke include people who work or play in hot conditions. This includes athletes, firefighters, military personnel, farm workers, and others who have to spend many hours in the sun. And anyone subjected to a sudden temperature change\u2014for example, someone flying in January from Minnesota to Florida\u2014may have a harder time dealing with the heat until they become acclimated.<\/span><\/p>\nHeat illness prevention tips<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you or your kids will be going out in the sun, you probably already know that you should use a high-SPF sunscreen to <\/span>avoid sunburn<\/span>. The CDC recommends an SPF rating of 15 or higher, but no amount of SPF will help you with high temperatures and heat exposure. To prevent heat-related illnesses, limit your time in the heat, drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re taking any medications or you have other underlying medical conditions, take extra precautions when doing any activities in hot weather. If you have to exert yourself, try to do it early in the morning or at night, when the conditions are coolest. If you\u2019ll be going somewhere with hotter weather than you\u2019re used to, take the time to get acclimated before you exert yourself very much, and never, ever leave a child or pet in a parked car. This is a common cause of heat stroke in children.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nIf you have to work in hot conditions, \u201ctry to take breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned environment,\u201d Dr. Campagnolo says. \u201cAnd watch your urine color. If it\u2019s dark and concentrated, you need to drink more water. If it\u2019s lighter and pale, you\u2019re probably getting enough water.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhen it\u2019s hot, \u201cdrink water, and don\u2019t overexert,\u201d Dr. Cram adds. \u201cTake breaks. Slow down your work or exercise, and stay in the shade as much as possible.\u201d And if you start to display any of the symptoms of heat-related illness, stop what you\u2019re doing, have a cold drink, and take a little time to cool things down.<\/span><\/p>\n\n \n \n
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