The hot, steamy days of summer are fun-filled days. They are also days of heat exhaustionn, a serious medical condition. The elderly, infants, and young children are more at risk for heat exhaustion and it can come on quickly. What causes heat exhaustion?
Mayo Clinic answers this question in "Heat Exhaustion," an article published on mayoclinic.com.
The human body cools itself by sweating, the article explains, and "when you exercise strenuously or overexert in hot, humid weather, your body is less able to cool itself efficiently." So the body sweats more in an attempt to regulate a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees. This excess sweating causes fluid loss.
Knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion will help you to spot it quickly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the symptoms are:
* sweating profusely
* pale, moist skin
* muscle and stomach cramps
* feeling tired and weak
* dizziness
* headache
* nausea and/or vomiting
* feeling faint or fainting
* pulse rate that is fast and weak
* shallow, fast breathing
While young children have these same symptoms, KidsHealth.org says they have two others -- irritability and thirst -- and the organization tells parents to "think prevention." Because infants, young children and the elderly are unable to accommodate to temperature changes quickly, they should be monitored carefully.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, workers are also affected by heat exhaustion. "Protecting Workers in Hot Environments," a fact sheet on its site, gives tips for avoiding it. Workers should shield themselves from the heat, use cooling fans, stay hydrated, alternate work and rest periods, and acclimate to heat slowly.
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