Dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke symptoms and what to do
Record high temperatures mean you can get caught off guard by heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, over 9,000 high school athletes are treated for heat illnesses each year.
Many medications and underlying medical illnesses, such as diabetes, also can increase the risk for heat illnesses.
One of the most common heat illnesses is dehydration. This occurs when the amount of fluid the body loses, usually due to sweating, is greater than the amount taken in. If not treated right away, your body stops working normally.
How to Treat Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are muscle cramps or spasms that hit you hard when you have been exercising or working in a hot environment, such as outside in the high heat of summer. The difference between muscle cramps and heat cramps is that heat cramps occur due to sodium deficits from profuse sweating (but not, in fact, from the heat). The cause of such pain is usually from a failure to maintain proper hydration to counter sweating and, as a result, the electrolyte content in your body drops too far (hyponatremia). The targets are usually the calves, thighs, and abs (although heat cramps can potentially affect any muscle). Rest assured, you can treat most heat cramps with relatively little effort.
Heat Exhaustion Or Heat Stroke?
As summer temperatures begin to rise, taking steps to protect yourself from heat illnesses is essential.
Heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke and cramps happen when your body can’t keep itself cool. As the temperature rises, your body produces sweat to stay cool. On hot, humid days, the increased moisture in the air slows down this process.
Heat Cramps: What causes them & how can you prevent them?
, while working or exercising for prolonged periods of time in the heat. If muscle cramps occur, you will be plagued with sharp, painful, spasming muscles that you can sometimes see ‘twitching.’
Unfortunately, it seems that there might be a genetic component to exercise-induced muscle cramping, and so people with a history of muscle cramps will be at risk for repeated incidences of heat cramps. Those with underlying diseases (e.g., diabetes or cirrhosis), and/or taking certain medications are also at increased risk for exercise-induced muscle cramps.
Heat Stress: What to look for, how to respond
During the hottest days of summer the terms “Heat Stroke”, “Heat Exhaustion”, “Sunstroke”, “Heat Cramps” and others can get used interchangeably in an attempt to describe our bodies’ responses to extreme heat. But did you know that each of those terms describes a different medical condition, each with its own set of symptoms and requiring different First Aid responses? Here’s a guide to help you identify different types of heat related conditions and how to respond.
Heat Strokeis the most serious of the heat-related disorders. It occurs when the body is unable to regulate its own temperature and requires an emergency response. With heatstroke, a person’s body temperature can shoot up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit within the space of 10 to 15 minutes, and can result in death or permanent disability without emergency treatment.
How to Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning
It’shotthis summer, and Earth seems to just keep getting hotter. Until Elon Musk takes us to Mars, it’s the only planet we’ve got. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have (or feel you need) air conditioning, and sometimes it fails. Or maybe you’re planning to go on a hike or be outside for an extended period of time.
This guide has some tips on what to do when it’s incredibly hot and that blessed AC is not there to chill you out.
What are heat cramps and who is affected?
Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms – usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs – that Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms – usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs – that may occur in association with strenuous activity.
People who sweat a lot during strenuous activity are prone to heat cramps. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Heat cramps facts
Heatcrampsare intermittent, involuntary spasms of larger muscles that occur in an individual who is physically active in hot weather.
Heat cramps,heat exhaustion, andheat strokeare collectively known asheat-related illness. Heat cramps are the least serious of the three, but still may be very painful and alarming.
Heat cramps usually affect the major muscles that are being stressed in a hot environment.
What is the Difference Between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke?
As the heat index rises, so does the chance for heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Being active outside, not drinking enough fluids or certain health issues and medications all increase the chance for heat related illnesses, which range in various stages, with heatstroke being the most severe and requiring emergency medical attention. All ages can be affected by heat illnesses but they especially impact the elderly and young.
Heatstroke follows two less serious heat-related conditions: Heat cramps are caused by initial exposure to high temperatures or physical exertion. Signs and symptoms include excess sweating, fatigue, thirst and cramps, usually in the stomach, arms or legs. This condition is common in very hot weather or with moderate to heavy physical activity. Treatment includes drinking water or fluids containing electrolytes, like Gatorade, resting and getting to a cool spot, like a shaded or air-conditioned area.
How to Prevent Cramps and Illness in the Heat
Heat cramps are painful muscles spasms that occur in the arms, legs, or abdomen that usually occur after several hours of exertion in the heat. In addition to muscle cramps, other symptoms of heat cramps may include faintness, dizziness, weakness, and excessive sweating.
Usually, an athlete suffers from heat cramps after several hours of the exertion and excessive sweating that results indehydration.1
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