In case you didn’t know it, it’s going to be a hot one this weekend, with temperatures in Summit County expected to reach the mid 90s.
Air conditioners will be working overtime and most time will be spent indoors in attempts to avoid the blazing sun.
But for those who work outside or otherwise plan on spending time outdoors by yourselves or with families this weekend, it’s important to recognize the signs of heat stroke, or other similar illnesses.
Listed below are various heat-related health issues and their symptoms, according to both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Cleveland Clinic:
Heat stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to cool itself down, with internal temperatures rising to 106 degrees or above in a short amount of time. It can be fatal if not treated in a timely manner.
Symptoms include:
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs as a result of excessive sweating, causing the body to lose a large amount of water and salt. This illness is most likely to affect elderly people, people with high blood pressure as well as people who work in a hot environment.
Symptoms include:
Heat cramps
Heat cramps arise from excessive sweating and a loss of water and salt; low salt levels in the muscles can result in muscle cramps.
Symptoms include pain or spasms in the legs, arms or abdomen.
Heat rash
Heat rash occurs when excessive sweating during hot and humid weather causes skin irritation.
Symptoms include red clusters of pimples or small blisters on the skin, which usually appear on the neck, upper chest, groin, under the breasts and in elbow creases.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it’s taking in. It can be fatal if it isn’t addressed, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Typically your body’s first reaction to dehydration is thirst so start drinking fluids right away, preferably water.
Symptoms include:
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabodomyolysis, a serious condition related to heat stress and prolonged physical exertion, causes rapid muscle death. Once muscle tissues die, large proteins and electrolytes are released into the bloodstream, causing seizures, kidney damage and arrhythmia.
The condition can arise with or without symptoms. Symptoms include:
Heat syncope
Heat syncope occurs when someone has a fainting episode or experiences dizziness that usually happens when someone stands up too quickly after sitting or lying down.
Dehydration or a lack of acclimatization are some factors that can contribute to this condition.
Symptoms include:
Cold compresses, other ways to mitigate symptoms
In more serious cases such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the CDC says to call 911 for help. While waiting for emergency workers to arrive, the CDC suggests you move out of the heat into a shady area if possible, remove unnecessary clothing like socks and shoes, drink cool liquids, use cold compresses to cool down or wash your face, head and neck with cold water.
Other suggestions include putting cold wet cloths on the skin, soaking clothing in cool water and circulating the air around you in order to speed up the cooling process.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Heat wave: How to watch for signs of heat stroke, dehydration
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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