Tips to avoid heat-related illnesses
A common form of heat-related illness is dehydration. Dehydration is when you don’t have enough water in your body. Mild dehydration can cause problems with blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature. Severe dehydration can also cause weakness or confusion. In extreme cases, it can lead to brain damage and even death.
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each person. They can include:
- Thirst
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Muscle cramps
- Dry mouth
- Less urine
- Urine that is dark yellow or even light brown in color
- Headache
- Dry skin or tongue
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Fast heart rate and breathing
How can you treat dehydration?
Treatment will depend on your symptoms, your age and your general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. For mild dehydration, you can drink fluids. You may need to restore not just water, but also electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. Sports drinks can replace water and electrolytes. You can also drink water, fruit juices, tea and soda.
It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration that don’t subside by drinking additional fluids. For moderate to severe dehydration, you may need IV (intravenous) fluids and/or hospitalization.
Circle Health Urgent Care offers treatment for dehydration and heat-related illness 8 am – 8 pm, 7 days a week.
Call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Department if you have symptoms of severe dehydration or heat exhaustion, such as:
- Weakness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Large amount of blood (red or black color) or mucus in diarrhea
- Large amount of blood in vomit
