How does hot weather affect our bodies?
During scorching weather, your body can’t cool itself the way it normally does, so it’s under a significant amount of duress. When body temperatures start to rise slowly, that’s when you start to exhibit heat-related symptoms. One of the first things people may experience is heat cramps, and if that’s not treated, it can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
What are the symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke?
Heat cramps start when someone gets muscular cramps in their legs or on the side of the abdomen.
If you continue to stay in the heat, that’s when you move into heat exhaustion. Those symptoms are heavy sweating, you start to feel weak, your skin is clammy, and you feel pale. You’ll feel dizzy and nauseous and sometimes you may vomit or have a headache.
If you don’t seek medical attention, you may go into a heat stroke. Your nausea will increase, with vomiting, with very high likelihood of losing consciousness.
What should you do if you (or someone you know) are experiencing heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke?
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Where Can Students Get Treatment for Heat-Related Illnesses?
CU Anschutz has Campus Community Health, a nurse-led clinic, on campus in the Health Sciences Building. It's open to students, faculty, and staff Monday-Friday (8 a.m. -5 p.m.). You can book an appointment online, or call (303) 724-6242.
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If heat cramps last longer than an hour, call 911, have someone take you to the ER, or call for help. For anyone with heat exhaustion – if they have persistent vomiting and nausea and the symptoms are getting worse, call 911. Same with a heat stroke. Call 911 and get that person into a shaded area.
Do not put water in their mouth or fan them. Overhydrating them will disrupt trying to bring their body temperature down and fanning them will increase their body temperature. Lightly splash water all over them and get them into a shaded area.
Who is impacted the most by hot weather?
It’s mainly younger children and older adults because their bodies are less able to adapt to the heat. Never leave children (or pets) in a hot car, not even for five or ten minutes. The hot weather also impacts the elderly/aging population, especially people with pre-existing diseases/conditions or people who are on certain medications.
I advise patients who are on multiple medications to speak to their primary care provider or medical provider to see which ones are going to affect them during high temperatures. If someone is taking medication like diuretics, it can make them even more dehydrated, so talk to your medical provider.
What are some things you can do to prevent getting heat-related illnesses?
The main thing – especially with vulnerable populations – is to stay indoors somewhere with air conditioning. If you don’t have AC, go to a store, library, a friend's or relative's house, or someplace that has AC so you can stay cool. You can also open windows to let the air circulate (if you don’t have AC) because if you keep your windows closed, it’s going to make an environment much worse and a lot hotter. You can open windows and place electric fans facing outside to help circulate and dump the hot air out.
Other things to do:
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Stay hydrated and drink water and/or electrolyte replacement drinks such as Gatorade
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Limit your time outside. If you have to go outside, wear light and loose clothing
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Stay in shaded areas
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Wear sunscreen
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Limit drinking/consuming certain substances, like alcohol or caffeine
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Take cold baths or put ice packs on the top of your head or lower neck to bring your body temperature down
Does being at a higher elevation impact heat-related illnesses?
Some research suggests when you’re at higher altitudes, your body loses more fluid so you’re more prone to dehydration. If you feel dehydrated, take sips of water. It’s important to drink water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Don’t gulp down a whole bunch of water because it can cause electrolyte imbalances.
How can people prepare for hot weather when they have to be outside?
We live in such a busy world that we’re not aware of our surroundings or how we’re feeling. Know the signs and symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, and keep them in the back of your mind, especially when you’re outside. And, always have water. Whether it’s in your car at work or when you’re exercising outside. Water backpacks and water belts are a great way of keeping water on hand.
