Heat-Related Illness
Heat-related illness, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, is when our bodies cannot properly cool themselves. Our bodies normally cool down by sweating, but during extreme heat a person’s body temperature might rise faster than it can cool itself down, sometimes causing severe illness or death.
Some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include:
- Obesity
- Having a fever
- Not drinking enough water
- Prescription drug use
- Heart disease
- Mental illness
- Poor circulation
- Sunburn
- Alcohol use
Prevention Strategies
The good news is that heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. Sign up for heat-related alerts so you can plan ahead. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or others are showing signs of a heat-related illness:
