Summer weather and warmer temperatures usually bring out the good vibes, but basking in the sun and spending time outdoors isn’t necessarily risk-free. Aside from a painful sunburn (friendly reminder to wear daily sunscreen and a wide brim hat to protect your skin!), warmer weather can cause heat-related illnesses.
“Heat illnesses are medical conditions and illnesses caused by direct and prolonged exposure to heat,” says Ben Bowman, MD, the emergency department medical director at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. These illnesses range from mild to severe and typically occur when the heat index rises above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, he says.
To prevent any heat-related issues, Dr. Bowman says it’s best to limit outdoor physical activity between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear loose-fitted clothing, regularly hydrate, and take frequent breaks in the shade or cooler environments, especially if you’re exercising. But if you start to feel woozy from the heat, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with so you can seek treatment ASAP.
Ahead, doctors breakdown the five heat-related illnesses to be aware of this summer – plus, the accompanying symptoms and potential treatment options.
Experts Featured in This Article:
>Ben Bowman, MD, is the emergency department medical director at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
Korin Hudson, MD, is a sports medicine and emergency room physician at MedStar Health.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Scorching temps can make you queasy if you’re not careful. The symptoms of many heat-related illnesses can be subtle at first, but they can get serious fast, so it’s important to be familiar with the early warning signs – and know what to do to treat common heat-related illnesses.
Dehydration
Dehydration happens when your body doesn’t have enough water and can result in dizziness, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, dark urine, and confusion, says Korin Hudson, MD, a sports medicine and emergency room physician at MedStar Health. We hear about dehydration a lot, so it may seem like no big deal – but it can get serious, causing fainting and confusion, and in severe cases even death.
You can get dehydrated in any weather, but intense heat puts you at further risk, so it’s best to up your hydration game and drink plenty of water before, during, and after prolonged heat exposure, Dr. Bowman adds. As a general rule of thumb, aim to drink at least six to eight glasses of water per day, or around 64 ounces. You can also add an electrolyte powder to boost your sodium levels which tank when you’re dehydrated.
Heat Cramps
As the name suggests, heat cramps are painful muscular cramps that occur during or after exertion in hot environments, Dr. Bowman says. The cramping usually happens in large muscle groups of the legs, abdomen, or arms, and is especially common after running or working out in the heat, he explains.
Luckily, the condition is treatable with rest and lots of hydration, but if symptoms worsen or the cramps persist – either lasting for hours on end, or coming back frequently for days – visit your doctor.
Heat Syncope
Heat syncope is a fainting or dizziness episode that happens when standing for too long after significant exertion or rapidly standing up after sitting or lying down, Dr. Bowman says. Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
Sitting or lying down in a cool place and rehydrating with water, clear juice, and/or electrolytes usually cures the issue, per the CDC. But anytime you faint, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out possible serious conditions.
Heat Rash
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather, when sweat becomes trapped in the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms range from small blisters to deep, inflamed lumps, and can become red and extremely itchy, typically appearing on the neck, upper chest, groin, elbow creases, and armpits.
The condition usually heals on its own. You can ease the symptoms by cooling the skin and avoiding sun and heat exposure. But if the rash doesn’t clear up, gets worse, or seems intensely itchy or painful, visit your doc.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs in people with known heat exposure and an elevated core body temperature between 98.6 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, causing increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, and severe thirst, Dr. Bowman says.
If you experience symptoms, immediately move into a cool environment and rehydrate with water and electrolytes. It’s also a good idea to seek medical attention ASAP, he says, since it can progress to heat stroke.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is one of the most serious heat-related illnesses, and older individuals or those with underlying medical conditions are at an increased risk, Dr. Bowman says. The dangerous condition occurs when the core body temperature is higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and causes an altered mental status, confusion, increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, dizziness, or even coma in serious cases, he says.
Adequate hydration before, during, and after outdoor activities is the key to prevention, but if you suspect heat stroke, seek medical care immediately and do your best to rehydrate and lower the body temperature with cold water or a cool towel, Dr. Hudson says.
Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.
