The forecast calls for a heat wave, but you’ve got outdoor plans. Is it still OK to take that long bike ride, go to the park or attend a backyard barbecue? You might want to take some extra precautions.
When exposed to extreme heat, the body typically cools itself by sweating. But sometimes sweating isn’t enough. Your body temperature could rise rapidly, and you could develop a
heat-related illness.
Factors that may limit your ability to regulate your body temperature include:
Being older.
Being overweight.
Having certain health conditions.
Taking certain medicines.
The risk of a heat-related illness also rises with:
High humidity, which prevents sweat from evaporating as quickly to cool down your body.
High elevation, which increases your chances of dehydration and sunburn.
Strenuous exercise or activity, like hiking or biking in hot weather.
Medications that raise your risk of heat-related illness
Heart medications such as water pills (diuretics), beta blockers and ACE inhibitors.
Psychotropic medicines, including antidepressants, antipsychotics and benzodiazepines.
Drugs for Parkinson’s disease and overactive bladder.
Stimulants.
Antihistamines.
How to treat heat cramps
Heat cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that usually happen when someone is doing heavy exercise in a hot environment. These cramps often affect the calves, arms, belly and back. You are more likely to get heat cramps if you sweat heavily during activity.
If you think you have heat cramps:
Rest and cool down.
Drink clear juice or a sports drink or water with electrolytes.
Practice gentle range-of-motion stretching and gently massage the affected muscle.
Don’t resume strenuous activity for several hours after the heat cramps go away.
Don’t do strenuous activity for several hours after the cramps stop. Contact your healthcare team if your cramps don’t go away within an hour or so.
Heat exhaustion symptoms, causes and what to do
Heat exhaustion is a body’s response to high temperatures — particularly with high humidity — and strenuous activity.
Other factors that increase risk include:
Dehydration, which reduces your ability to sweat.
Drinking alcohol, which can affect your body temperature control.
Overdressing in clothes that don’t allow sweat to evaporate easily.
Heat exhaustion may affect you suddenly or slowly over time.
Symptoms may include:
Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat.
Heavy sweating.
Faintness or dizziness.
Fatigue.
Weak, rapid pulse.
Low blood pressure upon standing.
Muscle cramps.
Nausea.
Headache.
If you think you have heat exhaustion
Stop all activity and rest.
Move to a cooler place. Go inside an air-conditioned place if you can, or seek shade.
Drink cool water or a sports drink.
If it’s not treated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke. Contact your healthcare team if your symptoms get worse or don’t improve within an hour.
If you’re with someone who has heat exhaustion, seek immediate medical help if the person:
Becomes confused or distressed.
Loses consciousness.
Is not able to drink.
Has a core body temperature that reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Heatstroke warning signs and emergency treatment
Heatstroke can be life-threatening. This condition is usually due to lasting exposure to high temperatures or physical activity in high temperatures.
Wearing too much clothing, drinking alcohol and dehydration also can play a role.
Possible symptoms include:
A core body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures or coma.
Nausea and vomiting.
Flushed skin or changes in skin color.
Rapid, shallow breathing.
Rapid heart rate.
Headache.
Heatstroke also can change how you sweat. In heatstroke caused by hot weather, your skin will usually feel hot and dry to the touch. In heatstroke caused by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel dry or slightly moist.
Heatstroke warning signs and emergency treatment
Heatstroke can be life-threatening. This condition is usually due to lasting exposure to high temperatures or physical activity in high temperatures.
Wearing too much clothing, drinking alcohol and dehydration also can play a role.
Possible symptoms of heat-related illness include:
A core body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures or coma.
Nausea and vomiting.
Flushed skin or changes in skin color.
Rapid, shallow breathing.
Rapid heart rate.
Headache.
Heatstroke also can change how you sweat. In heatstroke caused by hot weather, your skin will usually feel hot and dry to the touch. In heatstroke caused by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel dry or slightly moist.