Heat Illness – Symptoms & Treatment

You could be suffering from one of the most prevalent heat-related disorders, such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. This happens if your body is overheating and you have a high fever, and bumps on your skin. Also, this happens in case of muscular spasms, headache, dizziness, nausea, or other symptoms. Heat illness can range in severity from minor to fatal, especially heat stroke.

Heat Illness

High temperatures and humidity together might result in a heat illness. When exercising or working in extreme heat or humidity, you may become sick. The four most typical heat diseases are as follows:

1. Heat rash: Your skin becomes red from the stinging skin irritant.
2. Heat cramps: They are uncomfortable muscular spasms.
3. Heat exhaustion: It results from inadequate hydration and prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures. Also, it results in rapid breathing, intense sweating, and a quick, weak pulse.
4. Heat stroke: It is a condition that might be fatal. It occurs when your body temperature quickly—within minutes—rises above 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius).

Your body sweats to stay cool. When humidity and temperature are too high, sweating is inadequate.

Symptoms of Heat Illness

Symptoms of Heat Rash

• Skin that is red.
• Rough skin.
• A tingling or “prickly” type of pain.
• Where your skin touches more of your skin, such as in your neck, groin, beneath your breasts, armpits, or in the creases of your elbows, you may have little bumps or blisters.
• Also, little lumps or blisters on damp skin from sweating. These areas include your upper chest, the inside of your elbow, and your neck.
• Infection.

The symptoms of Heat Cramps

• Leg, arm, or abdominal muscle aches are common.
• Leg, arm, or abdominal muscle spasms.
• Also, the body’s temperature stays normal.
• Moist and cool skin.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

• Shallow, rapid breathing.
• Thirsty and heavily sweating.
• Also, muscle pain.
• Anxiety and a headache.
• Higher heart rate and body temperature.
• Fast and weak pulse.
• Cool, moist skin. a light complexion.
• Diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea.
• Also, reduction in urination.
• Weakness, unsteadiness, coordination issues, and dizziness.

Moreover, keep in mind that heat exhaustion has no impact on your mental state. A healthcare professional needs to examine you.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

• A rapid, strong pulse.
• Fainting, dizziness, and unconsciousness.
• Hallucinations, slurred speech, agitation, confusion, and upset mental status.
• Skin that is hot, red, and dry.
• Nausea.
• The temperature of at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Twitch of the muscles.
• Seizures.
• Hyperventilation.
• Despite the heat and humidity, no sweating.

Treatment

Heat rash and heat cramps are moderate heat diseases that you may be able to manage on your own at home. But if they persist or you exhibit signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, you should go to the emergency department. There are home cures, outpatient therapy, and inpatient treatment options for the four types of heat illnesses:

For Heat Rash

• Try to find a cool place that is inside and air-conditioned.
• Dry off your skin gently.
• On your skin, apply cold compresses.
• Also, avoid using any items that can clog your pores. This includes lotions, ointments, and baby powder.
• If your symptoms do not go away, consult a doctor.

Treatment For Heat Cramps

• Drink water.
• Rest.

For Heat Exhaustion

• Go indoors or find a cool, shaded spot.
• Sips of cool water throughout the day.
• Also, apply cool towels to your skin.
• Stand close to a fan and spray yourself with mist.

Treatment For Heat Stroke

• Leave the crowded location.
• Get help within 30 minutes of the beginning of symptoms.
• Spraying yourself with water or using cool compresses will help you start to cool down.
• Also, take off or loosen your clothes.
• Put your feet up.
• Moreover, avoid consuming any kind of fluid.

The Bottom Line

After receiving treatment for heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rash, you should recover fast. Your age, general physical health, and how soon you obtain medical attention all affect how long it takes you to recover. You can need a few days to recover from heat stroke, and you might be more sensitive to heat for a week. Also, for approval to resume employment or hobbies, you can ask to your healthcare professional. Furthermore, to keep yourself and your friends and family safe in hot and humid weather, become familiar with the signs of heat illness.