Heat fatigue is a warning sign of heat-related illness and can lead to heat stroke. Symptoms include sweating, rash, confusion, and sluggishness. Proper precautions, such as breaks and hydration, can prevent serious health complications. Treatment includes rehydration and monitoring in a hospital.
Heat fatigue is one of several warning signs of heat-related stress and illness. It can precede a potentially life-threatening condition called heat stroke. Working, exercising, or even just spending too much time outdoors in very hot weather can lead to heat fatigue symptoms. A person may begin to sweat profusely and develop a mild, widespread rash. Mental confusion and physical sluggishness progressively worsen if an individual does not seek a cooler environment and medical care. It’s essential to recognize the early signs of heat fatigue to prevent serious health complications.
Body temperature is naturally regulated by processes that regulate blood circulation and expel sweat. Under comfortable conditions, most people maintain body temperatures around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (about 37 degrees Celsius). When heat and physical activity raise core body temperature, sweating helps cool the skin, and the rate and amount of blood pumped throughout the body increases to compensate for exhausted organ systems. Extreme heat and activity can overwhelm regulating functions, resulting in higher-than-normal body temperatures and symptoms of heat fatigue.
Most often, heat fatigue affects people who don’t take proper precautions when venturing outdoors in hot climates. Symptoms of heavy sweating, thirst, and tiredness can begin to show within hours if a person does not take regular breaks and stays sufficiently hydrated. As more and more water is lost through sweat, a person may experience muscle weakness, cramps, and hand tremors. Mental confusion, trouble concentrating, and poor decision making are characteristic of late-stage heat fatigue and can be signs of a serious illness. If you don’t seek medical attention, heat fatigue can lead to blackouts, seizures, coma, and permanent heart and lung damage.
A person showing symptoms of heat-related illness should be brought indoors immediately and given cold water to aid in rehydration. When symptoms are mild and a person seems to recover quickly, it may not be necessary to go to the emergency room. Any further physical activity should be avoided for a day or two to ensure symptoms do not return. If fainting occurs or severe sluggishness is evident, the problem should be addressed in an emergency room.
In the hospital, doctors may provide cooling blankets or ice packs and intravenous fluids. Your breathing, heart rate, and ability to concentrate are closely monitored and treated as needed. Most people who receive immediate treatment are able to recover without lasting consequences, although lifestyle changes and extra precautions may need to be taken to prevent recurring episodes.
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