By Adam Berls

to your health

To Your Health: Extreme Heat

Aug 22, 2023 | 9:00 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — During the summer months, heat-related illnesses are bound to happen, especially during heat waves and long periods of prolonged above normal temperatures.

Heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat, this might not be enough. In these cases, a person’s body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.

The Center for Disease Control says that some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include high levels of humidity, dehydration, poor circulation and heart disease. Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with actions that help the body cool itself to prevent heat-related illness. Drinking plenty of fluids, staying cool inside whenever possible, pacing yourself when outside are just some ways you can help keep your body cool.

If you are experiencing signs of heat stroke, call 911 right away, heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red. dry or damp skin, a fast, strong pulse, nausea, and confusion. If you are outside exercising in the heat, and start experincing heavy sweating and muscle pain or spams, that is a sign that you may have heat cramps, the CDC says that in this event, stop physical activity and move to a cool place, drink water and wait for the cramps to go away before doing anymore physical activity.

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Making sure that you are of the symptoms of heat-related illnesses can help prevent you from getting sick during extreme heat events.