High temperature is always with you, and you feel it more than know what it is. But it does affect your body in ways you don’t always think about.
Sweat. Sweating is your natural airconditioning. Your body pushes sweat onto the surface of your skin. As it evaporates, the sweat draws heat away and cools you down. You feel the cooling more in drier climates where humidity is low. You could get tired or ill if this cooling system doesn’t work fast enough.
Heat exhaustion. In extreme heat, your body can’t get cool enough and sweats away too much water and salt. You get pale and clammy, and your temperature often goes over 37oC. You also may be tired, weak, lightheaded, and nauseated, and have a headache. Get to a cool shaded area, lie down, and drink something with salt and sugar. Sip water if that’s all you have. If you ignore it, it could lead to heatstroke, which is an emergency.
Heatstroke is heat at its most dangerous. You can’t control your body temperature, which can go above 40oC degrees. Your skin gets warm and dry. You might get confused or agitated, and have a fast pulse, nausea, and a headache. Call for help right away. Left untreated, it may cause seizures, coma, and can be life-threatening. Get to a cool area, sip something (if you can), and pack ice under your arms and between your legs.
Dehydration. When it’s very hot, you can sweat away too much fluid, along with essential minerals like sodium and potassium. You may be thirsty and pee less than usual, and your mouth and tongue might feel dry. You could even feel dizzy, lightheaded, and confused. Head for a cool place and drink something balanced with salt and sugar (such as an oral rehydration solution). Serious cases need emergency care, including fluids you get through an IV.
Heat Rash. It happens, often in hot humid weather, when you sweat so much that your sweat glands get blocked. When your pores can’t get rid of it, you break out in tiny red bumps. It’s more likely at your armpits, groin, neck, elbows, and under the breasts. You can help prevent it and treat it if you wear light, loose, absorbent clothing like cotton. Try to stay as cool and dry as possible.
Higher heart rate. When you get hot, your heart may beat faster. It does that in order to pump more blood to your skin, where it can release some of that extra heat. As a result, other parts of your body may not get enough blood. This could make you tired and sluggish, especially if you’re trying to do hard physical or mental work.
Lower Blood Pressure. When you’re hot, you sweat. That makes you lose fluids and electrolytes. Together, these things might drop your blood pressure, sometimes enough to make you dizzy or even pass out. It could be even worse if your heart doesn’t pump normally and isn’t able to adjust to the greater demand.
Extreme heat. It can be life-threatening, and heat exhaustion and heatstroke aren’t the only reasons. Heat can also trigger heart issues, and even worsen breathing problems, as it boosts air pollution. Your city or local health department may have online information about where to find public pools, air-conditioned spaces, medical assistance, and other help during a heat wave.
