This is how your body tells you that you need to leave the air conditioning on now
With temperatures soaring across the U.S., experts warn of the dangers of sun exposure and how to stay safe in the heat.
Summer is many people’s favorite time of year, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. While plenty of us relish the prospect of spending more time outside, that’s almost impossible due to high temperatures in certain parts of the United States in July and August in particular.
In Phoenix, for instance, temperatures typically reach triple figures on a daily basis between the end of May and the middle of September. Las Vegas, meanwhile, averages more than 70 days a year with 100 degrees plus. Just two places on a long list of sweltering summer cities.
With summer in full swing, it’s important to do our utmost to make sure we limit health risks associated with taking in too much sun, or spending too much time in extreme heat.
Sunburn in only 15 minutes
According to University of Florida Health, it only takes 15 minutes of exposure to the sun for some people - especially those with fair skin - to get sunburned, although they may not realize it until much later. Regular sunburn not only increases the risk of skin cancer, but also affects body temperature regulation, which can lead to more serious issues.
Heat exhaustion: symptoms and treatment
The first of those is typically heat exhaustion, which can also set in after just 10-15 minutes in the sun. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness, sweating, cool and clammy skin, and irritability, while body temperature may be abnormally high, although not above 104ºF (40ºC), per Cleveland Clinic.
If you suspect you are suffering from heat exhaustion, it’s important to take steps to cool your body down. If possible, take a cool shower, soak in a cool bath or put towels soaked in cool water on your skin. Otherwise, rest in a cool place (i.e. a building with air-conditioning), preferably lying down with your legs raised higher than your heart.
Drinking cool fluids is also essential to rehydrate, while loosening your clothing can also help.
Heatstroke: call for emergency help
Provided the symptoms don’t get worse inside 30 minutes, according to the NHS, heat exhaustion can often be treated at home. However, if the opposite occurs, heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, which can be considerably more serious.
Home treatment usually isn’t enough for heatstroke, so, in addition to doing everything possible to cool down, seek emergency help if you suspect you - or someone you’re with - has this particular heat-related illness.
Heatstroke is usually indicated by a body temperature above 104ºF (40ºC), while a person’s mental capacity is much more likely to be affected (confusion, delirium, loss of consciousness). Additionally, while heat exhaustion usually involves heavy sweating, that usually stops during heatstroke.
How to stay safe in hot weather
Stay out of trouble this summer by keeping out of the sun at the hottest times of the day, exercising when it’s cooler, drinking plenty of fluids and making sure your home is cool. It sounds like common sense, but it’s easy to get carried away when the sun is out.
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