WHAT SWEATING
CAN DO TO YOUR BODY
Sweating
- It’s your natural cooling system.
- Your body pushes sweat out onto the surface of your skin.
- As the air absorbs it (evaporation), it draws heat away & cools you down.
- This works better in drier climates where humidity is low.
- You might get very tired & sometimes seriously ill if it doesn’t work quickly enough.
Heat Exhaustion
- It happens in extreme heat when your body can’t get cool enough & sweats away too much water & salt.
- You get pale & clammy & your temperature often goes over 100 degrees.
- You also may be tired, weak, lightheaded & nauseated & have a headache.
- Get to a cool shaded area, lie down & drink something with salt & sugar.
- Sip water if that’s all you have.
- If you ignore it, it could lead to heatstroke, which is an emergency.
Heatstroke
- This is heat at its most dangerous.
- You can’t control your body temperature, which can go above 104 degrees.
- Your skin gets warm & dry.
- You might get confused or agitated & have a fast pulse, nausea & a headache.
- Call 911 right away.
- Left untreated, it may cause seizures, coma & can be life-threatening.
- Get to a cool area, sip something (if you can) & pack ice under your arms & between
your legs.
Dehydration
- When it’s very hot, you can sweat away too much fluid, along with essential minerals like
sodium & potassium. - You may be thirsty & pee less than usual & your mouth & tongue might feel dry.
- You could even feel dizzy, lightheaded & confused.
- Head for a cool place & drink something balanced with salt & sugar like an oral rehydration solution.
- Serious cases need emergency care, including fluids you get through an IV.
Heat Rash
- It happens, often in hot humid weather, when you sweat so much that your sweat glands
get blocked. - When your pores can’t get rid of it, you break out in tiny red bumps.
- It’s more likely at your armpits, groin, neck, elbows & under the breasts.
- You can help prevent it & treat it if you wear light, loose, absorbent clothing like cotton.
- Try to stay as cool & dry as possible.
Sunburn
- Bare skin burns if it’s in the sun too long.
- It may get reddish, itchy, painfu & warm to the touch.
- If serious, you could have blisters, headache, fever & nausea.
- Go inside as soon as possible.
- Drink plenty of water & don’t pop any blisters.
- A cold, damp cloth & aloe vera lotions may help soothe the pain.
- Better yet, prevent sunburn with clothes, hats & broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least
30 SPF
Fainting
- It’s more likely when you’re new to a hot place, so take care to stay hydrated.
- Heat can dehydrate you and make it harder for your brain to get enough blood.
- That may make you dizzy & pass out.
- It might be worse if you stand for a long time or get up suddenly.
- Getting used to a hotter place can take up to 2 weeks.
- If you feel faint, lie down & raise your legs above your head.
- Go to a cool area & drink fluids as soon as possible.
Heat Edema
- Heat can cause your fingers, toes, or ankles to swell & make your skin feel tight.
- It's not serious & usually goes away when you cool down & elevate your legs.
- Talk to your doctor if it causes pain, keeps happening, or doesn't get better.
Higher Heart Rate
- When you get hot, your heart may beat faster.
- It does that in order to pump more blood to your skin, where it can release some of that
extra heat. - As a result, other parts of your body may not get enough blood.
- This could make you tired and sluggish, especially if you’re trying to do hard physical or
mental work.
Lower Blood Pressure
- When you’re hot, you sweat.
- That makes you lose fluids & electrolytes.
- Together, these things might drop your blood pressure, sometimes enough to make you
dizzy or even pass out. - It could be even worse if your heart doesn’t pump normally & isn’t able to adjust to the
greater demand.
Confusion
- You may find it harder to concentrate & do hard tasks as things heat up.
- It’s usually nothing to worry about & you can fix it with a rest in a cool place & something
to drink. - But if you’re already sick from the heat & you become seriously confused about where
you are or what you’re doing, it could be a sign of heatstroke, which needs immediate
medical care.
Should You Exercise in the Heat?
- You might be fine exercising outside when it’s 85 degrees & the humidity is low.
- But if the humidity hits 80%, it’s like it’s really 97 degrees.which is the 'effective temperature,'which you can check online.
- Even if you’re healthy, that makes you more likely to get heat exhaustion.
- Wear loose clothing, drink plenty of water & know the signs of heat-related illness.
- Or just take your workout indoors!
Precautions
When a heat wave hits:
- Drink lots of water, even if you’re not thirsty.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrate you.
- Eat lighter meals, more often.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Check on loved ones who live alone or don’t have air conditioning.
- Stay inside as much as possible and avoid outdoor chores.
- Never leave a child or pet alone in a car, even if it’s not that hot outside.
Extreme Heat
- It can be life-threatening & heat exhaustion & heatstroke aren't the only reasons.
- Heat can also trigger heart issues & even worsen breathing problems, as it boosts
air pollution. - Your city or local health department may have online information about where to find public pools, air-conditioned spaces, medical assistance & other help during a heat wave.
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Health Challenges
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