Many people like summer because it brings lots of sunshine and fun.
But the high temperature and humidity could potentially harm your health.
Henry Wang, MD and Samuel Prater, MD, two emergency medicine experts from The University of Texas at Houston, provide advice about how to prevent health issues caused by heat.
According to them, there are five types of health problems people need to know:
Heat exhaustion
It can occur when the body is not able to properly cool itself in hot weather and starts to overheat.
Sweating is the body’s cooling mechanism. But if the body depletes its reserve of salts and fluids, but is still exposed to high temperatures, heat exhaustion can happen.
It is the most common heat-related illness in the emergency room.
The beginning signs of heat exhaustion are feeling hot, dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseated.
Other symptoms include headaches; cramps; strong pulse; fainting; hot, red, and dry skin; excessive sweating; and a lack of sweating.
Heatstroke
If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can lead to heatstroke. The condition can occur when the body’s core temperature reaches 104-106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
The heart begins to fail, fluid in the lungs starts to back up, and the body starts to makes lactic acid, putting the organs, especially the kidneys, at risk.
Patients can go into a coma, which may cause brain damage and sometimes even death.
The researchers suggest that when the temperature is at or above 90 degrees, everyone should prepare to fight heatstroke.
Hot car deaths
Spending time in a hot car puts the body at risk of heatstroke, especially for young children.
It’s never acceptable, in any circumstance, to leave children in a car that is turned off, even if you crack the windows.
Even with windows left slightly open, the temperature inside the car can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body doesn’t have as much water as it needs.
It can happen very quickly in high temperatures because the body increases its sweat production.
Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine, dry and cool skin, headache, and muscle cramps.
People who drink liquid need to avoid drinks filled with sugar or alcohol. Liquid with salt and minerals included may be helpful.
Wang notes that drinking an excess of just plain water can actually dilute your salt level, which can cause confusion, seizures, and death.
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