Prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses. As your body works to cool itself under prolonged heat, blood rushes to the surface of your skin. As a result, less blood reaches your brain, muscles, and other organs. This can interfere with both your physical strength and your mental capacity, leading to serious danger.
By reducing excessive exposure to high temperatures and taking other precautionary steps, most heat-related illnesses can be avoided. Those who work in hot or humid environments such as manufacturing plants, bakeries, or construction sites during summer months are most at risk. Long, hot afternoons at the beach can pose problems if warning signs are ignored.
Heat-related illness can strike anyone. But chronic alcoholics, the elderly, the young, the obese, and individuals whose immune systems may be compromised are at greater risk as are individuals taking certain drugs, such as antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, and cocaine. High humidity increases the risk of heat illness because it interferes with the evaporation of sweat, your body's way of cooling itself. The different types of heat-related illnesses are given below.
·
Heat
cramps: A person who has been exercising or
participating in other types of strenuous activity in the heat may develop
painful muscle spasms in the arms, legs, or abdomen referred to as heat cramps. The body temperature is usually normal, and the skin will
feel moist and cool, but sweaty.
·
Heat
exhaustion:
Heat exhaustion is a warning that the body is getting too hot. Those most prone
to heat exhaustion include elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment. A
person with heat exhaustion may be thirsty, giddy, weak, uncoordinated,
nauseous, and sweating profusely. As with heat syncope and
heat cramps, the body temperature is usually normal in heat exhaustion. The
heart rate (pulse rate) is normal or elevated. The skin is usually cold and clammy.
·
Heat
rash: Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is
most common in young children. Heat
rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.
·
Heat
stroke: Heat stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition that occurs when
the body loses its ability to control its temperature. Victims of heat stroke almost always die so immediate
medical attention is essential when problems first begin. In heat stroke, a person develops a fever that rapidly rises to dangerous levels within minutes. A
person with heat stroke usually has a body temperature above 104 F (40 C), but
the temperature may rise even higher. Other symptoms and signs of heat stroke
may include confusion, combativeness, bizarre behavior, feeling faint,
staggering, strong rapid pulse, dry flushed skin, and lack of sweating, delirium, or coma.
·
Heat
syncope:
Someone who experiences heat syncope (fainting) will experience the sudden onset
of dizziness or fainting after exposure to high temperatures particularly after
exercising in the heat. As with heat cramps, the skin is pale and sweaty but
remains cool. The pulse may be weakened, and the heart rate is usually rapid.
Body temperature is normal.
“We're particularly concerned where
kids are exposed to high temperatures and high humidity with nowhere to cool
down... Everyone would agree that one kid dying of a heat-related illness is
something no one wants, especially when it is a totally preventable situation
if proper steps are taken.” (Brad Garrett)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5 Ways to Recognize a Heat-Related Illness” by Melissa Conrad Stöppler
·
“Understanding Heat-Related Illness -- the Basics” Reviewed by Sabrina Felson
“Understanding Heat-Related Illness -- the Basics” Reviewed by Sabrina Felson
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