A healthy body temperature is maintained by the nervous system. As the body temperature goes up, the body tries to stay at its normal temperature by transferring heat. Sweating and blood flow to the skin (thermoregulation) help us keep our bodies cool. A heat-related illness occurs when our bodies can no longer transfer enough heat to keep us cool.
A high body temperature (hyperthermia) can develop quickly in extremely hot environments, such as when a child is left in a car in the summer heat. Hot temperatures can also build up in small spaces where the ventilation is poor, such as attics or boiler rooms. People working in these areas may quickly get hyperthermia.
High temperature caused by a fever is different from a high body temperature caused by a heat-related illness. A fever is the body's normal reaction to infection and other conditions, both minor and serious. Heat-related illnesses produce a high body temperature because the body can't transfer heat as well as it should or because there's too much external heat gain.
Heat-related illnesses include:
Often, environmental and physical conditions can make it hard to stay cool. Heat-related illness is often caused or made worse by dehydration and fatigue. Your risk goes up if you exercise during hot weather, work outdoors, and don't wear lightweight or loose-fitting clothing for the environment. Drinking alcohol also increases your risk of dehydration.
Many medicines increase your risk of a heat-related illness. Some medicines decrease the amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output) and limit blood flow to the skin, so your body is less able to cool itself by sweating. Other medicines can change your sense of thirst or make your body produce more heat. If you take medicines regularly, ask your doctor for advice about hot-weather activity and your risk of getting a heat-related illness.
Other things that may increase your risk of a heat-related illness include:
Acclimation helps you remain active in a hot environment with less risk of a heat-related illness. You can acclimate yourself to a hot environment by gradually increasing the amount of time you exercise in the heat each day. Do this over 8 to 14 days. Adults usually need daily exercise periods that last 1 to 2 hours to become acclimated. Children need 10 to 14 days to acclimate.
You can also start acclimating while in cooler environments by wearing more clothing when exercising. This will raise the body temperature, which helps the body start sweating.
Acclimation helps you sweat for a longer time at a lower body temperature. Although this increases the amount you sweat, it decreases the amount of salt you lose in sweat or urine.
When recognized in the early stages, mild heat exhaustion, can be treated at home. Here are some things you can do to cool down and treat your symptoms.
Get out of direct sunlight. Lie down in a cooler environment, such as shade or an air-conditioned area. Prop up your feet. Take off all unneeded clothing.
Use cool compresses, or have a fan blow on you. Place ice bags under your arms and in your groin area, where large blood vessels lie close to the skin surface. This will help you to cool down quickly.
Drink rehydration drinks, juices, or water to replace fluids. Drink 2 qt (2 L) of cool fluids over 2 to 4 hours. Total rehydration with oral fluids usually takes about 36 hours. But most people will start to feel better within a few hours.
Rest for 24 hours, and keep replacing fluids with a rehydration drink. Rest from any strenuous physical activity for 1 to 3 days.
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