What Is Heat Exhaustion?

Sweating and letting that sweat evaporate is the most efficient way for the body to cool itself. Heat-related illness can occur if sweating is insufficient to meet the body’s cooling demands. This is a spectrum of conditions that begins with minor symptoms like prickly heat or heat rash and progresses to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, finally, heat stroke, a potentially fatal medical condition.

Heat exhaustion is a condition that develops when your body overheats, causing you to sweat profusely and have a rapid pulse. It is associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially when mixed with high humidity. It can also be induced by vigorous physical exercise. Heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke, which is a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly. Heat exhaustion, fortunately, may be avoided.

Heat Exhaustion Vs Heat Stroke

There is no clear distinction between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If a person is experiencing changes in mental state as a result of a heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion, he or she should be regarded to be suffering from heat stroke. Confusion, lethargy, seizure, or coma are all symptoms of this. This is a medical emergency, with a death rate of more than 50% if care is delayed. While people suffering from heat exhaustion sweat heavily, those suffering from heat stroke tend to stop sweating and have dry skin, which is a warning of a looming heat stroke.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion symptoms are similar to those of many other medical disorders, making them easy to overlook. However, here are some of the most common symptoms of heat exhaustion:

• nausea
• headache
• dizziness
• pulse that is faint and quick
• sweating excessively
• internal body temperature rises
• cramping or muscle weakness
• vomiting
• angry or aggressive demeanor
• face hot and crimson
• breathing that is quick and shallow
• skin that is chilly, pallid, and wet, with goosebumps on occasion
  when standing up or bending over, you may have low blood pressure or light-headedness

Causes of Heat Exhaustion

Your core temperature, which is your body’s internal temperature, is the consequence of your body’s heat combined with external heat. To maintain a normal core temperature of 98.6 F (37 C), your body must manage heat gain (and, in cold conditions, heat loss) from the environment.

Dehydration

Dehydration impairs your body’s capacity to sweat and regulate its temperature.

Alcohol

Consumption of alcoholic beverages can impair your body’s ability to regulate temperature.

Overdressing

Overdressing, especially in clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating quickly can cause heat exhaustion.

Your Body’s Failure to Cool itself

When it’s hot outside, your body cools off primarily by sweating. Sweat evaporation helps to keep your body temperature in check. In hot, humid conditions, however, your body is less able to cool itself properly if you exercise vigorously or otherwise overexert. As a result, heat cramps, the mildest form of heat-related diseases, may occur in your body. Heavy perspiration, exhaustion, thirst, and muscle cramps are common symptoms of heat cramps. Heat cramps normally do not proceed to heat exhaustion if treated promptly. Heat cramps are usually treated by drinking electrolyte-rich fluids, moving to cooler conditions (such as an air-conditioned or shaded location), and relaxing.

Risk Factors of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion can affect anyone, but certain circumstances make you more sensitive to heat. They are as follows:

Age

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. Heat exhaustion is more likely among infants and children under the age of four, as well as individuals over the age of 65. In the young, the body’s ability to regulate temperature isn’t fully developed, and in older folk, it may be hampered by disease, drugs, or other causes.

Sudden Temperature Change

You’re more prone to heat-related ailments such as heat exhaustion if you’re not adapted to them. Since your body hasn’t had time to adjust to the higher temperatures, traveling to a warm environment from a cold one or living in an area that has experienced an early heat wave can put you at risk of a heat-related illness.

Medications

Some medications are used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems (beta blockers, diuretics), lessen allergy symptoms (antihistamines), relax you (tranquilizers), or diminish psychiatric symptoms such as delusions impair your body’s capacity to stay hydrated and adapt effectively to heat (antipsychotics). Furthermore, illegal drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can raise your core temperature.

High Heat Index

The heat index is a single temperature figure that takes into account how you feel in terms of both external temperature and humidity. When the humidity is high, your sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly, and your body has a harder time cooling down, making you more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. When the heat index reaches 91 F (33 C), you should take efforts to stay cool.

Obesity

Excess weight can interfere with your body’s capacity to regulate temperature, causing it to retain extra heat.

How to Prevent Heat Stroke

Heat exhaustion and other heat-related ailments can be avoided by taking a few precautions. When the temperature rises, remember to:

Wear Light, Loose-Fitting Clothing

Excessive clothing or clothing that is too tight will prevent your body from cooling adequately.

Avoid Sunburn

Sunburn impairs your body’s capacity to cool itself, so wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when going outside, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every two hours or more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating heavily.

Drink a Lot of Water

Staying hydrated will aid in the production of perspiration and the maintenance of a healthy body temperature. When it comes to particular medications, take extra measures. If you take medications that alter your body’s ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat, keep an eye out for heat-related issues.

Never Leave a Passenger in a Parked Vehicle

In children, this is a prevalent cause of heat-related death. In just ten minutes, the temperature in your automobile can rise by 20 F (more than 11 C) when parked in the sun. Even if the windows are cracked or the car is in the shade, it is not safe to leave a person in a parked automobile in hot or humid weather.

Schedule your Activities

During the warmest parts of the day, take it easy. If you can’t avoid strenuous activities in the heat, stay hydrated and take regular breaks in a cool place. Do exercise or physical labor in the early morning or late evening when the weather is cooler.

Be Cautious

If you’re at a higher risk, be cautious. Avoid the heat and respond quickly if you observe symptoms of overheating if you take drugs or have a condition that raises your risk of heat-related complications, such as a history of past heat illness. Make sure there are medical resources available in case of a heat emergency if you participate in a vigorous sporting event or activity in hot weather.

Get Used to it

Limit the amount of time you spend working or exercising in the heat until you’ve gotten used to it. Heat illness is more likely among persons who aren’t used to being in hot weather. Your body may take many weeks to acclimate to hot temperatures.

Now that you Know…

Heat exhaustion is one of the symptoms of heat illness, and it is curable. However, some people may not recognize their symptoms, and heat-related illness can escalate to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition, if they are not evacuated from the hot environment, chilled, and rehydrated. Heat exhaustion is more likely to recur in people who have previously had it, so they should be cautious when working or exercising in hot weather. The majority of people recover quickly from heat exhaustion. Recognizing symptoms before they proceed to heat stroke is crucial to recovery.