11/07/2025
Its Hot Hot Hot 🔥 🥵
What is exercise-related heat exhaustion?
Exercise-related heat exhaustion is an illness caused by getting too hot when you exercise. During heat exhaustion, your body temperature rises above normal.
Your brain usually keeps your body temperature within a degree or two of (37°C). This temperature control is important because many processes in your body only work well within a certain range of temperatures.
Your body has several ways to lower your body temperature when it gets too high. Your body can cool itself by sweating. When sweat evaporates, it lowers your temperature. Your body can also lower the temperature by sending more blood to your skin and to your arms, legs, and head. This lets more heat can escape. If your body cannot get rid of the extra heat, your body temperature will rise. In heat exhaustion, your body temperature may rise to (38.3°C) to (40°C). This can make you feel weak and dizzy. Your heart may not be able to pump enough blood. This can make you collapse.
Heat exhaustion is less serious than heat stroke, another heat-related illness. But heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke if it is not treated. In heat stroke, your body temperature rises even higher. This stops basic processes in your body. This can cause serious problems, including death.
What causes exercise-related heat exhaustion?
Exercise-related heat exhaustion happens when your body can no longer get rid of the extra heat made during exercise, and your body temperature rises more than is healthy. Not drinking enough fluids during exercise can also cause dehydration. Together, these things can make you collapse.
Exercising outdoors on a hot day can cause heat exhaustion. But humidity also plays a large role. In high humidity, your body can’t use sweat to cool itself. This robs your body of one of the most important ways of getting rid of extra heat.
Many other things can make it harder for your body to get rid of extra heat. These include:
Being in poor physical shape
Being dehydrated
Using alcohol before exercising
Not being used to a hot environment
Taking certain medicines such as stimulants, antihistamines, and medicines
What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?
The main symptoms that may be warning signs that heat exhaustion is about to happen. Symptoms may vary depending on the how serious the heat exhaustion is. Signs and symptoms include:
Rapid heartbeat
Fast breathing
Heavy sweating
Dizziness
Fainting
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Headache
Weakness
Muscle cramps
Mild, temporary confusion
Low blood pressure
Dehydration
Problems coordinating movement
How is heat exhaustion treated?
Stopping the activity and moving to a cooler area. ⛱️ Seek shade, if feeling faint to lay down raising your legs to a level above your head
Taking off any extra clothing and equipment, loosen clothing. Dampen clothing with water.
Cool off until your temperature goes down. Continue to monitor your body temperature you should cool off until you start to shiver. This might involve soaking in tepid and slowly reduce the to cool water, to prevent cold shock. “Its not the ice bucket challenge “🪣 🧊. But cold flannel compress to pulse points ( back of neck, wrists and back of knees) Spraying yourself with water, or sitting in front of a fan.
Sip/Drink water or a sports drink if you can drink, are not confused, and are not nauseated.
♥️Monitoring your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and mental status.
Many people will get better within an hour or two of treatment. If you do not get better quickly, go to the emergency room. There you will be checked for more serious problems.
