Hot summer days can play havoc with your health as prolonged exposure to temperature can cause various ailments. Under extremely hot conditions, the body loses its ability to maintain temperature, sweating and other metabolic activities.
Hyperthermia, known as overheating of the body is a very common occurrence during summer. Other heat-related issues are heat cramps and exhaustion, heat stroke, skin rashes and sunburn.
Obese people with heart disease, elderly, individuals with the weakened immune system, pregnant women are at high risk of developing heat-related illnesses.
Geographic location, as well as occupational exposure to heat, may also cause the same. Excessive dehydration and alcohol consumption are other contributing factors.
Heat stroke is a condition when the body temperature shoots up above 40.5°C. During heat exhaustion, one may face an excessive loss of water and electrolytes from the body in the form of sweat.
Symptoms
- High body temperature
- Headache, dizziness and nausea
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
- Red blisters
- Burning sensation
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle cramps and body pain
- Dryness of mouth and sore throat
- Poor breathing
Treatment And Prevention
Treatment includes rehydration of the body, proper rest and use of antiperspirants. In severe cases, medications help in restoring the electrolyte balance and hydration levels.
Heat-related illness can be prevented by proper planning which includes adequate intake of fluids, wearing loose-fitting clothes and staying indoors.
