How to Prevent Heat Exhaustion During the Challenging Summer Months

7/12/2023

TUCSON, AZ (July 12, 2023) – As temperatures rise, so do cases of heat exhaustion. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of patients diagnosed with heat exhaustion from May to September rose by 53%.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea and muscle cramps.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the condition is more likely to affect the elderly, those with high blood pressure, and people who work in a hot environment. Left untreated, heat exhaustion can cause heat stroke which can lead to permanent disability or death.

We spend more time outside in the summer, whether we’re working or playing,” said Louisa Asare, M.D., MPH, an internal medicine physician with Northwest Primary Care at Houghton. “In Pima County, just getting from one place to another during the summer months increases the risk of excessive heat exposure and exhaustion. By understanding the warning signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion – and how to prevent the condition – you can stay safe and healthy all summer long.”

To help prevent heat exhaustion, Dr. Asare recommends the following tips:

• Cover up: When outside, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing, hats, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least 15 SPF (although 30 to 50 SPF is better) to protect against sunburn. Besides being painful and skin-damaging sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down.
• Keep cool: When the mercury spikes, take cool showers, go swimming, or apply wet towels on your neck or forehead to help lower body temperature.
• Hydrate: Drink fluids, especially water, throughout the day to stay hydrated. Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine, which can contribute to dehydration.
• Stay in the shade: Stay in shaded areas or indoors during the hottest hours of the day (usually between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.)
• Rest often: If you work outside or participate in outdoor activities, take regular breaks to cool down in a shaded area where you can rest and rehydrate.

“Spending time outside, enjoying the sunshine and warm weather is why so many people love the summer – but it can be dangerous without the proper precautions,” added Dr. Asare. “If you or a loved one experience symptoms of heat exhaustion, and you can’t cool down, it’s time to seek emergency medical care.”

Sources:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250
cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html
cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html#:~:text=Heat%20exhaustion%20is%20the%20body's,working%20in%20a%20hot%20environment
aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2020/protect-yourself-summer-heat.html

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