Heat Illness

What is heat illness?

Heat illness happens when your body gets overheated, usually when you are outside in very hot or humid weather. There are different types of heat illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and the most serious, heatstroke. You are at high risk for heat illness if you:

• are an older adult
• are overweight
• have heart disease
• have high blood pressure or a chronic illness
• work in a hot environment

What is the cause?

Heat illness usually happens after long exposure to hot temperatures. It can also be caused by working in a very hot environment, being sick and having a high fever, or exercising too hard.

Overdressing, eating too much, not drinking enough fluids, or drinking too much alcohol can also help you get overheated.

What are the symptoms?

As your body gets hotter and is unable to cool down, symptoms progress. First, you may become dehydrated and get heat cramps. If not treated, your symptoms could become more severe and you could eventually develop a more serious problem, such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Heat cramps: Symptoms of heat cramps include muscle pains or spasms (most commonly in the abdominal, arm, or leg muscles).

Heat exhaustion: Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• dizziness
• weakness
• nausea or vomiting
• muscle aches
• headaches
• increased sweating

Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition in which the body temperature rises rapidly to 104°F (40°C) or higher and the body's heat-regulating mechanism breaks down. Heatstroke may cause damage to the kidneys, heart, lungs, muscles, liver, intestines, and brain. Symptoms of heatstroke:

• no sweating
• confusion and disorientation
• erratic behavior
• agitation
• seizures
• coma
• injury to body organs

How are they treated?

Heat cramps: Heat cramps usually do not require medical treatment.

Heat exhaustion: Usually your healthcare provider will treat you for dehydration. You may be given a sports drink that contains salt and other electrolytes. You may need to get fluids with an IV if you cannot keep anything down. You will be told to stay out of the heat and avoid strenuous activity for a few days.

Heatstroke: This is an emergency. The first priority is to lower your core temperature to normal as quickly as possible by:

• putting ice packs under your armpits or in the groin area
• putting you into a cool tub
• keeping your skin moist with cool fluid
• blowing fans across your body

When you have heatstroke, you will be given IV fluids. You may need to stay in the hospital for a day or two.

How can I take care of myself?

Heat cramps: Heat cramps are treated by drinking a lot of fluids, massaging the cramped area, and stretching the cramping muscles. Heat cramps may go away more quickly if you drink a sports drink that contains salt and other electrolytes, rather than plain water.

Heat exhaustion: The first aid procedures for heat exhaustion are:

• Stop exercising or any activity.
• Lie down and rest in a shady or cool place.
• Loosen your clothing
• Drink plenty of cool water, clear juice, or a sports drink. Do not drink iced drinks or alcohol. If you cannot sip fluids, you may need treatment with intravenous fluids in a first aid station or a hospital.
• Cool your body with a fan, spray, or washcloth, or a cool bath or shower.
• Seek medical attention if the symptoms get worse or last longer.

Heatstroke: If you think someone has heatstroke, call 911 or a healthcare provider immediately. Follow the treatment for heat exhaustion until medical help arrives. A person with heatstroke needs to be brought to a hospital for further treatment and checked for organ damage. If it is not treated promptly, heatstroke may cause permanent nerve, heart, liver, or kidney problems, or even death.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening symptoms.

How can I prevent heat illness?

• Avoid strenuous activity in hot or humid weather.
• Stay out of the hot sun
• Wear a hat if working in intense sun and wear light-colored clothing.
• Take time to get used to a new climate before being very active or staying outdoors for a long time.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing in hot weather.
• Drink plenty of water whenever you spend a lot of time in the sun or in a hot environment. Drink extra water when you sweat, even if you aren't thirsty.
• Open windows, or use a fan or air conditioner to improve air circulation.
• Eat smaller meals, and limit how much alcohol you drink when it is very hot or when you're not used to a hot climate.
• If you take medicines, talk to your healthcare provider to see if these medicines could make problems in the heat worse.