May’s already seen high temperatures go over 100ºF at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Summer brings sunshine, which makes you want to get outside to enjoy the gorgeous weather. However, summer also brings excessive heat, and that heat can cause serious heat-related illnesses.
Don’t risk your health while you’re having fun. Premium Urgent Care helps you learn how to stay safe in the summer heat and recognize what heat-related illnesses are common and how to avoid them.
How the Body Regulates Heat
All day and night, your body does everything possible to keep your core temperature at 98.6°F or close to it. When it’s hot outside, your body produces sweat, which evaporates from your skin. That process removes some of the heat. If it’s both hot and humid, sweat won’t evaporate effectively, which creates a problem. You’re not cooling down, so your core temperature rises.
Other factors like dehydration, pre-existing health conditions, overexerting in the heat, and prescription medications can all impact how well your body maintains its core temperature. If it rises too high, heat-related illnesses are likely.
Explore the Variety of Heat-Related Illnesses and How to Treat Them
Heat-related illnesses range in terms of severity. Some cause no more than mild discomfort, while others are life-threatening. Knowing the different illnesses and their symptoms is essential. It’s also important that you know exactly what to do if you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms.
1. Heat Cramps
The mildest heat-related illness involves heat cramps. Your muscles spasm and become very painful. This occurs when your electrolyte balance in your blood is unbalanced due to heavy sweating or dehydration.
Muscle spasms are more likely to occur in the abdomen and legs, but don’t rule out heat cramps if you’re experiencing cramps in other areas of the body, such as your arms.
If you’re having muscle spasms, go to the shade or inside the house to cool off. Drink water or a drink like electrolyte-enriched water to restore your electrolyte levels and rehydrate your body. As you replenish your body fluids, gently stretch out your muscles to help loosen them, but do not exercise heavily again that day.
A trip to urgent care is usually unnecessary unless you find the pain worsens, or you have chronic health conditions like heart disease. In that case, go to urgent care to have a doctor examine you and determine if IV fluids are needed.
2. Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is far more serious than heat cramps. It occurs when your body’s sodium and water levels become much lower than they should be. It often occurs when you’ve been overheated and sweating profusely for longer than you should. It’s critical to take care of yourself at this point as the next stage can be life threatening.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Clammy, cool, and pale skin
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Excessive sweating
- Fainting
- Fast, weak pulse
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
It’s important to move to an air-conditioned room or a shady area of the lawn. Lie down and elevate your feet as best you can. Sip water or an electrolyte water or beverage. A cool washcloth on the back of the neck helps. If you can get into the shower or tub, standing under or sitting in lukewarm water also helps. You want it as cool as possible without it being shockingly cool.
Again, urgent care may not be necessary, though you should call a doctor to see if it’s worth coming in for a visit. If symptoms worsen or don’t improve in half an hour, get on the check-in list and head to urgent care.
3. Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Go straight to an ER for immediate treatment. Heatstroke occurs when your core temperature is too high. This can cause organ damage. Symptoms include:
- Agitation
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Dry, hot, red skin
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea
- Pounding headache
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Temperature of 103°F or higher
- Vomiting
If someone you know is showing those signs, help them into a cool shower or tub, if possible. Dampen their clothes and place ice packs under the armpits and in the armpits and groin. Turn on the AC or a fan and position the air at the person while you call 911.
Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses
What’s better than experiencing and treating these heat-related illnesses is to prevent them. Prevention is always best and involves:
- Staying hydrated, women should be aiming for 2 liters per day, while men should aim for 3, and possibly more if you’re sweating profusely
- Dressing in loose, airy materials like cotton or bamboo that are light in color
- Avoiding outdoor activities in the hottest parts of the day
- Hanging out in the shade or a water source like a pool
- Heading inside to AC, cool showers, or fans before you get too warm
- Knowing the side effects and warnings on any medications you take
- Listening to your body and stopping at the first signs of discomfort
Always wear sunscreen when you’re going outside in the sun. Aim for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply it around 10 minutes before you head outside and reapply it every two hours or after getting out of water.
Many people fail to apply enough. Remember this tip. The amount you spread over your body should be the equivalent of a shot glass. Of course, that does depend on how much skin is exposed.
Consider wearing sunscreen (UV-protective) clothing. It offers protection from the sun without having to apply and reapply sunscreen. You still need to cover skin that is exposed, such as your hands, feet, face, and ears. A wide-brimmed hat also helps protect your face.
If you’re planning something a bit more strenuous, such as a pick-up game with friends, try to reschedule for the evening. If you can’t avoid being outdoors because of work or another pressing obligation, dampen your clothes before you play. As they dry in the sun, it helps keep your core temperature down.
It shouldn’t have to be mentioned, but you also need to make sure that you’re not leaving pets, children, or anyone else in a parked car. If you have elderly neighbors or relatives, check on them when it’s hot.
Put Safety First
While you’re having fun, make sure you’re also putting safety first. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and go inside if you’re getting hot. While Premium Urgent Care is here to treat heat-related illnesses with no appointment necessary, we’d rather you stay safe. Use our tips to prevent issues like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and make sure you know when to head to our office for treatment.