Heat Exhaustion Overview

Heat exhaustion is one of the three heat related syndromes which affect our body and health adversely. The three syndromes are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Out of these three, heat cramps is the mildest form, heat exhaustion is at middle level and heat stroke is the severe form. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse. Prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures can cause heat related illnesses. When the body is exposed to extreme heat, blood begins to rush to the surface of the skin. This can disturb the physical and mental capacity of a person and can be quite serious in some cases.

Heat exhaustion can be avoided by reducing extreme exposure to high temperatures and by taking some precautionary steps. Those people who are constantly exposed to high temperatures, like in bakeries, construction business, manufacturing units, etc, are more at risk of heat exhaustion, especially in summer months. Long stays at beaches and other hot places can also create risk for people of heat exhaustion. Prompt treatment can help people recover from heat exhaustion and get well soon, but if not managed in time, then heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke and can become fatal.

Heat exhaustion basically occurs when the body is forced to loose large amounts of water and salt due to excessive sweating. This loss of fluids and salts from body tends to disturb circulation and can also interfere with brain function. Symptoms of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, faintness, dizziness, fatigue, rapid pulse, nausea, headache, cramps in muscles, etc. These symptoms can develop either suddenly or over a period of time, especially in those people who exercise strenuously in hot and humid climates. 

The causes of heat exhaustion include excessive alcoholism, dehydration, certain medications which trigger dehydration, overdressing and when your body’s capacity to cool itself fails. Precaution is the best medication against heat exhaustion. You should wear loose and light weight clothes during hot and humid months, avoid sunburn, should drink plenty of fluids, seek a cool place when it gets too hot and let your body acclimatize to heat when it gets too hot. Generally the symptoms of heat exhaustion are sufficient for the medical practitioner to identify the syndrome but sometimes they can also take your temperature to confirm the diagnosis and rule out heatstroke.

Generally, a person can overcome heat exhaustion by following a few measures like resting in a cool place, drinking lots of cool fluids, applying cold water to skin and by loosening tight clothes or changing into loose clothing. If you don’t begin to feel better within an hour of following these steps, you must seek a medical practitioner’s help who will give you IV fluids to help you rehydrate.

Generally, heat exhaustion is not fatal and can be treated. So, if you get caught by it then don’t panic, just take good care of yourself but the best medicine is prevention from heat exhaustion.