Avoiding illness during hot temperatures

During extreme temperatures, the risk of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or severe sunburn significantly increases.

What may start as a simple headache or muscle cramps can escalate rapidly as body temperatures rise in scorching weather. While seniors and infants are most at risk, anyone spending time outdoors can be affected by high temperatures and intense humidity.

Maintaining a normal body temperature requires a significant amount of energy. On exceptionally hot days, the body works overtime to stay cool, leading to fatigue and lethargy.

Moreover, most individuals are typically slightly dehydrated. Being in a hot, sweaty environment exacerbates dehydration, with fatigue being a common symptom.

Some people are more susceptible to heat-related issues than others. Older adults, for instance, are at a higher risk of heat stroke due to their bodies’ limited ability to adapt to sudden temperature changes.

Additionally, seniors are more likely to have reduced salt intake or medical conditions that may affect their response to high temperatures.

Healthcare professionals recommend that seniors drink more water during summer and stay indoors as much as possible.

Furthermore, individuals accustomed to cold climates who travel to hotter regions may find it challenging to acclimatize. Experts suggest that the body requires about a week to adjust and find ways to regulate its temperature.

Various cooling methods are available, but it’s essential to know which works best for you.

Cold drinks and ice can provide temporary relief from the heat.

You can cool off by spritzing cool water on yourself and then using a fan or standing in front of one. Alternatively, soaking your hands and feet in water can help as extremities are heat radiators.

Ice packs can also be effective when wrapped in a cloth and applied to the cheeks, hands, feet, or the back of the neck.

Humidity provides an ideal environment for heatstroke, according to experts.

Heatstroke occurs when the body’s core temperature exceeds 104 degrees in adults and 105 degrees in children. It typically results from severe dehydration or the body’s inability to cool down in extreme heat. Prolonged exposure or vigorous activity in hot weather often triggers heatstroke.

Excessive sweating during outdoor activities in high temperatures can pose risks. Sweat contains minerals and salts that aid in maintaining electrolyte balance. Heavy sweating can lead to dehydration, consequently necessitating increased hydration.

When spending prolonged periods in the sun, it’s advisable to refrain from consuming alcohol, coffee, or caffeinated beverages, as they act as diuretics, hastening the loss of salt and water from the body. The best strategy to combat dehydration involves drinking water and consuming salty snacks like pretzels or baked potato chips. Avoid taking hot showers immediately after outdoor activities as the combination of steam and sodium loss may lead to lightheadedness.

Heat-related illnesses manifest a spectrum of symptoms. Mild signs may include a rash, evolving into muscle cramps due to dehydration.

Signs of heat exhaustion, a precursor to heatstroke, encompass heavy sweating, clammy skin, rapid pulse, dizziness, and headache.

If any such symptoms arise, cease the activity, move to a cooler environment, and hydrate.

Heatstroke, the most severe heat-related ailment, requires immediate medical attention to prevent fatality or organ damage. Heatstroke can develop within 10 to 20 minutes if the body temperature spikes rapidly. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, elevated heart rate, and potential loss of consciousness.