The human body has an internal temperature of around 98.6oF, and it DOES NOT like it when that very specific temp fluctuates especially in extreme heat.
You already know that prolonged exposure to heat and humidity has straightforward effects (like heat exhaustion and dehydration), but sometimes the resulting body malfunctions can take some odd forms. Changes of as little as little as a few degree can cause your body’s delicate biochemistry to change in unpleasant ways, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. Here’s some symptoms of extreme heat illness that you should be aware of -- and seek treatment for -- if you can’t recover after removing yourself from the heat:
- Your brain stops working right. Confusion and dizziness are common effects of too much exposure to extreme heat, due to increased blood flow to dilated blood vessels and fluid loss through sweating.
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may set in…and stay a for a few days even after you cool down.
- Heat stroke sometimes comes in the form of heat exhaustion so know the symptoms. The most acute symptoms to watch out for (according to CCOHS) include:
- Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness.
- Seizures
- Very high body temperature
- Muscle cramps and soreness in joints and bones. This is usually due to dehydration.
- You may develop tiny red spots on your skin with a prickly, itching or burning sensation. That’s a heat rash, caused when your sweat pores become blocked.
We’ve only just begun to experience our triple digit heat here in El Paso. Know these symptoms of serious heat illness that extreme heat produces on the body and get out of the heat or seek care if you start to experience them.
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