Heat Related Illness
(Heat Exhaustion, Heatstroke, Heat Cramps)

Heat-related illness happens when your body cannot cool itself off. As the air temperature goes up, your body stays cool when your sweat evaporates. As your body works to cool itself off, blood goes quickly to the surface of your skin. By doing this less, blood goes to your brain, muscles and other areas of your body. This can effect your strength and your ability to think.

Symptoms:

Heat Exhaustion:

• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Slower or weaker pulse
• Sweating a lot then having cool, clammy skin

Heat Cramps:

• Really bad cramps especially in your hands, feet, or calves
• Hard, tight muscles

Heatstroke (Sunstroke):

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Hot, flushed (red), dry skin
• Heart beating fast (160 to 180 beats per minute) while at rest
• Not sweating as much as you should
• Breathing faster
• Your body temperature 40C to 41C (104F to 106F)
• Confusion
• Seizures

Anyone can get a heat-related illness, but some people are at greater risk like: people who are chronic alcoholics, old, obese or taking medications like antihistamines, antipsychotics or using cocaine. Weather that is very humid puts people at greater risk, because it gets in the way of your body sweating.

The difference between heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heatstroke:

Heat Exhaustion: happens when your body loses lots of water and salt by sweating a lot while exercising or doing hard physical work. This can get in the way of your blood circulating around your body and effects your brain.

People who have heart problems or are on low salt diets are at greater risk of heat exhaustion.

Heat Cramps: happens when your body loses too much fluid, salt, potassium and magnesium. This usually happens when your are doing things that are very physical.

Heatstroke: the most serious. Caused by your body being exposed to intense heat for a long time. Your body loses its ability to cool itself off. The part that usually controls your body temperature does not work right. Your body cannot sweat. People with scleroderma or cystic fibrosis may be at greater risk, because these diseases already decrease their ability to sweat.

Prevention:

• When it is very hot outside, try to spend most of your time in a cool, air-conditioned area. Decrease your activity outdoors, especially in the afternoon when it is the hottest.
• Eat small healthy meals throughout the day. This helps increase your energy level.
• Drink lots of fluids like water and juice, but try not to drink alcoholic beverages and those that have caffeine in them (coffee, tea, chocolate drinks, and cola.)
• Clothes that are loose fitting, light colored and lightweight are best to wear.
• A hat with a wide brim will help protect your head and face.
• Use sunscreen. Sunburns can decrease your body's ability to cool off.
• Gradually expose yourself to the heat, if you are not used to it.
• If you have to be in a hot area, remember to open windows and use fans to help the air move. If you are outside, try to find a spot in the shade to take a break.

Return to the Emergency Department IF:

• You feel confused or anxious
• Your pulse is really fast or slow
• Your temperature goes up 40C to 41C (104F to 106F)
• You sweat a lot and then you feel cool and clammy or you do not sweat very much and your skin feels hot, flushed and dry.
• Seizures