Rising temperatures and humid weather are not just sticky and unpleasant- they can also be dangerous. Exposure to prolonged or excessive hot temperatures can cause various types of heat related illnesses or disorders.
Your body temperature is regulated by the nervous system. As the body temperature increases, your body works to cool itself by transferring heat. Sweating and blood flow to the skin help us keep our bodies cool. A heat-related illness occurs when our bodies can no longer transfer enough heat to keep us cool. This can interfere with both your physical strength and mental capacity, leading, in some cases, to dangerous conditions.
Heat disorders is a general term for several kinds of heat-related illnesses that occur due to environmental heat exposure. Listed below are some common types of heat related illnesses and the signs and symptoms to identify them.
Hyperthermia
As opposed to hypothermia, hyperthermia occurs in extremely hot environments. Hyperthermia is when your body temperature is abnormally high. This happens when your body is overheated or is having trouble regulating its temperature due to extreme heat.
In hyperthermia, the body temperature can reach above 99.5 F and in severe hyperthermia, the temperature goes above 104 F.
High temperature caused by a fever is different from a high body temperature caused by a heat-related illness. A high body temperature cause by heat-related illness like hyperthermia is the result of excessive external heat.
Signs and Symptoms
Hyperthermia refers to a group of heat-related illnesses. As your body temperature rises you may experience the following symptoms:
Heat rashes
Heat rashes appear as small red or pink bumps and can look like bug bites or pimples. Heat rash occurs when sweat gets trapped under your skin because of clogged sweat ducts. There are three different types of heat rashes- Crystallina, Rubra, and Profunda.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are involuntary muscle spasms that occur from being physically active in hot and humid conditions. It consists of painful muscle cramps and spasms. Working out in extreme heat, leads to sweating more than usual and as a result, your body will lose fluids and electrolytes more quickly, increasing your likelihood for muscle cramps.
Heat cramps are more likely in the elderly or small children, overweight people, and people who consume alcohol.
Signs and symptoms of Heat Cramps
- Muscle pain and tightness
- Cramps
- Muscle convulsions
Heat Syncope
Blood pressure decreases due to the dilation of the blood vessels in the skin, resulting in decreased flow of blood to the brain. The person’s pulse quickens and weakens. It is mild form of heat illness.
Heat Syncope is also known as orthostatic dizziness
Signs and symptoms of Heat Syncope
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Facial pallor
- Quickening and weakening of the pulse
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a more severe form of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion results from a loss of water and salt in the body. It occurs in conditions of extreme heat and excessive sweating without adequate fluid and salt replacement. A person suffering heat exhaustion will sweat profusely. If rehydration is inadequate, the person will become dehydrated, and exhibit symptoms of heat exhaustion.
Heat exhaustion symptoms can be felt over the body.
Signs and symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
- General feeling of malaise
- Nausea/vomiting
- Headache
- Decreased ability to concentrate or make decisions
- Extreme thirst
- Pale skin
- Muscle cramps
- Heavy sweating
- Fainting
Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is the most severe form of heat illness. Heat stroke is a condition in which core bodily functions are impaired due to an excessively high body temperature. In other words, it occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system is overwhelmed by excessive heat.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency and requires immediate medical attention. Heat stroke is identified when the body temperature touches 104 F or above.
Signs and symptoms of Heat Stroke
- Mental confusion
- Slurred speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Slow reaction to calls and stimuli
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Seizures
