What are Heat-related Health issues?
Heat-related health issues occur when a person is exposed to unusual or prolonged amounts of heat and humidity with no proper rest and adequate fluid (according to research, women should intake about 2 litres of fluid per day, and men should intake about 2.6 litres), intake can be a source of several heat-related illnesses. In Australia, Excessive heat can be considered more fatal than any natural disease. Heat can be harmful to everybody. It is a significant threat to children, teens, pregnant women and people over 65 years old.
Children’s and teens’ bodies produce more heat and sweat less. For the body, sweating is the primary mechanism through which it cools itself. Heat-related illness occurs when our body exceeds its average temperature. Due to heat, you can be a victim of significant health illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat rash, rhabdomyolysis and sudden events like heart attack or stroke.
You can adopt several ways to save yourself and others from heat by keeping cool, staying hydrated, and staying in during the day.
Who can be more affected by heat?
Heat can cause anyone health problems, but those who can get more affected include.
- Children
- Teens
- People over 65 years
- Pregnant Women
- People who already have health problems
- People who have worked outside
- People living in warm areas with less facilities
Prevention:
Some of the significant prevention measures that everyone can take to save themselves from heat illness are as follows:
Stay Hydrated
Women should intake about 2 litres of fluid daily, and men should intake about 2.6 litres. A pregnant or breastfeeding woman’s body requires more fluid. Dehydration can happen when their body fluid level drops. Take adequate fluids to keep yourself hydrated in extreme heat.
Wear Appropriate Clothes
Light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton clothes are suitable for the Heat period. Light colours reflect the sun’s rays, and Cotton is a good water absorber. Since we sweat more during summer, it absorbs our sweat.
Use sunscreen
Heat can burn skin when exposed to it for a prolonged period. Sunscreen protects your skin from heat damage. You must wear it whenever you go out in the sun. Skin damage includes sunburns and telangiectasis (thinning of blood vessels).
Take Breaks
People who have to work outside should frequently take breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. Continuous working can be life-threatening. Rest properly after every 45 minutes of work to cool down your body.
Monitor Weather
Whenever you have to go out for any work or purposeful business, make sure to monitor the weather one day before. Take the heat advisories and warnings seriously. Always bring an umbrella with you.
Avoid outside activities
On most days, the highest Heat level occurs between 3 and 6 p.m. Avoid going out during this period. By not going during the day, you can save yourself from heat illness.
Cooler Environment
During the peak sun hours, try to be in a shaded or air-conditioning environment.
Symptoms:
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat illness. They are painful muscle cramps or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms, legs, or trunk. They occur during or after strenuous exercise in the heat, and heat exhaustion can also cause them.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Exhaustion is much more severe than heat cramps. It can lead to heat stroke. It occurs due to a low level of water and salt in the body. The significant symptoms of heat exhaustion are:
- Heavy sweating
- Pale skin
- Weakness
- Rapid pulse
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness, headache
- Nausea, vomiting
- Fainting
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most severe form of Heat illness. It occurs when the body temperature exceeds 40C and blood flow is restricted. The skin becomes dry because the body’s ability to sweat is lost. Many organs may suffer from damage. The body’s temperature must be reduced because it can be life-threatening. Symptoms of heat stroke include.
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion or agitation
- Profuse sweating or hot, dry skin
- Rapid breathing
- High body temperature.
- Rapid pulse
Heat Rash
When sweating is trapped in the skin, or when the body sweats more, it causes a heat rash, also known as prickly heat. It can occur at any age, but most commonly, babies and young children are affected by it. It appears on the neck, waistline, upper chest, under the breasts, and in skin folds and armpits, parts of the body where we sweat more.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare muscle injury associated with heat stress and prolonged physical activities in heat environments. It is a life-threatening condition that causes rapid breakdown, rupture, and death of muscle.
- Muscle cramps
- Abnormally dark (tea or cola-colored) urine
- Exercise intolerance
- Weakness
- Asymptomatic
- Muscle pain
Where to get treatment?
Heat cramps
Suppose you have heat cramps. Relax and cool down. Avoid going out; instead, stay in a shaded or cold environment. Drink fresh juice, such as apple juice or sports drinks that contain electrolytes. Gently massage the affected muscle to relax it. Call medical attention if you don’t get relief within an hour.
Heat exhaustion
You should move to a cold environment and cool down. Remove tight or weighty clothes. Wear cool, relaxed clothes or take a shower to reduce your body temperature. Sip steady water or sports drinks that contain electrolytes. Contact healthcare professionals if there is no relief after the first aid treatment.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is an emergency condition that requires medical attention. Seek medical help near you. Until that happens, put the person in a cool tub or take a shower.
Heat rash
It is better to wear light-coloured, Cotton and loose clothes because they avoid skin touching. Stay in the air conditioning area during the rash period. Use powder to keep skin dry and prevent ointments or creams because they can worsen the rash.
Rhabdomyolysis
Seek medical professionals to help solve the rhabdomyolysis problem.
Conclusion:
Heat-related health issues can be life-threatening, but they can easily be overcome with proper precision. Due to heat, you can face health issues like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat rash, and rhabdomyolysis. There is treatment if you face these health issues. Go through all the posts and find your problem’s solution.