Heat Illness

Everyone is susceptible to heat illness, but it affects different people in different ways. Physically fit, well hydrated people are more heat tolerant, while the elderly and children are more likely to suffer from heat illness. It can cause disabling complications related to excessive heat stress. There are several types of heat illnesses, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke.

Dehydration

• Dehydration occurs when the amount of body fluid that is lost is greater than the amount of fluid that is replaced.
• Dehydration does not only occur only when you are exercising in the heat. You can become dehydrated when spending a day at the beach, working in the yard, visiting a theme park or any other activity that requires prolonged exposure to heat.
• Drink water or sports drinks (not caffeinated or alcoholic beverages) before, during and after exercise. How much you need to drink depends on how big you are and how hot it is.

Heat Exhaustion

• Most common type of heat illness.

• Is caused by decreased blood volume due to dehydration.
• Characterized by dizziness, headache, nausea, profuse sweating, cool/clammy skin, rapid/weak pulse, body temperature at or slightly below normal.
• Remove from hot environment and cool as quickly as possible.

Heat Cramps

• Painful spasms of the skeletal muscles caused by dehydration.
• Prevented by proper prehydration and relieved with gentle stretching, ice, and increased fluid consumption.

Heat Stroke

• The least common but most serious, even fatal.
• The body’s cooling system completely shuts down or blood volume is so low that the person stops sweating and goes into shock.
• Characterized by disorientation, unconsciousness, no sweating, hot/dry skin, increased body temperature, rapid/strong pulse.
• THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Cool the person rapidly and call 911 for immediate transport to the emergency room.

Tips to Prevent Heat Illness

• Drink fluids before, during, and after exercise or prolonged heat exposure.
• Check the color of your urine to see if fluid uptake is adequate. Clear/light colored urine indicates proper hydration.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
• Take frequent breaks.

For more information, contact your physician or a specialist at Saint Vincent Sports Medicine by calling 814-866-3466.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.