Whether You're Working or Working Out Outside: Tips for Keeping Cool in the Hot and Humid Weather.

Heat can severely affect the body by adding unnecessary stress on your body and possibly causing serious illness. Heat related illness starts out mild and can escalate fast depending on heat/humid, your activity level , and how hydrated you are.

Mild Heat Related Illness:
-Heat cramps: Painful muscle spasms.
-Heat syncope: Feeling lightheaded or fainting caused by high temperatures. This often occurs after standing for a long period of time in a hot environment or standing up quickly after sitting for a long period of time.

Moderate to Severe Heat Related Illness:
-Exercise associated collapse: Felling lightheaded or fainting immediately after exercise, such as after a race.
-Heat exhaustion: Happens when your body temperature rises as high as 104F and you may begin to experience nausea, headache, weakness, cold/clammy skin, and vomiting.
-Heatstroke: Happens when your body temperature rises above 104 F. This is a life-threatening illness where immediate medical attention is needed to prevent brain damage, organ failure, and death. With heatstroke your skin may be hot and your body might stop sweating which limits it’s ability to cool itself down. Other signs and symptoms may include confusion, irritability, dizziness, nausea, heart rhythm issues, visual problems, and fatigue.

The best ways to stay safe is by drinking plenty of fluids, wearing appropriate clothing, and, if possible, timing your workout to avoid the hotter parts of the day. If you are working, take as many breaks as you can in the shade to rest and hydrate. If you start experiencing mild signs and symptoms of heat related illness please seek shade to rest and hydrate. Once you have recovered, it is not recommended to continue your activity because heat relate illness can escalate quickly. If you start experiencing moderate to severe signs and symptoms of heat related illness please seek medical attention.

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