Avoiding heat-related illness
Like many who grew up in the 1970s, I loved a sun-bronzed look so I “tanned” in the summers. By my late 20’s, lazy summer days were traded for active afternoons outdoors with my fair-skinned children (and abundant sunscreen). I’m proud to say that no one in my family ever suffered a heat-related incident. Until my own episode last summer.
It was day four of a weeklong beach trip with my girlfriends. Already sunburned, I slathered on a lot of sunscreen and donned a floppy hat before setting off with my friends to stake out our beach hangout for the day.
Heat exhaustion was the last thing on my mind, but it shouldn’t have been, especially since I was already sunburned. Although heat exhaustion isn’t as serious as heat stroke, it should not be taken lightly because it can progress to heat stroke, which can damage vital organs, and even be fatal.
On top of my sunburn, there was that August heat, thick humidity and general lack of a breeze. Two hours in I thought to myself how incredibly hot and humid it was, then suddenly I was overtaken by a feeling of extraordinary lightheadedness. I was also sweating heavily. Feeling woozy, I slowly got up and walked to the water’s edge. The cool, wet sand felt good and the waves washing over my feet felt good too. Deciding that I’d had enough heat and sun, I bid my friends adieu and walked up to the cottage for a shower and some air conditioning.
According to Dr. Johanna Larrazabal, a physician with Riverside Internal Medicine and Family Care, a Hampton Roads, Virginia-based practice, early signs that you need to get out of the heat often mirror exactly what I had experienced.
“Typically, there is lightheadedness, which can precede passing out,” she says. “Some people might experience changes in vision or changes in the heart rate. When the body becomes overheated, a person might also sweat profusely or feel faint.”
Inside the cottage, after my shower, the nausea hit me with astonishing force. I decided to lie down for a bit. Every time I’d change my position, though, the room would spin. Sitting up was out of the question. The nausea and vomiting I’d experienced were apparently signs that my condition could have become severe.
“Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that one might experience prior to heat stroke,” says Dr. Larrazabal.
Obviously, the best thing to do in a situation like this is just what I did: get out of the sun as soon as possible. If the symptoms are mild, cool and hydrate the body. Recommended strategies include drinking plenty of fluid and taking a cool shower or bath.
In hindsight, I should have seen a doctor. Mine was a happy ending but it could have easily been otherwise. “When in doubt, always be seen,” says Dr. Larrazabal. “You cannot check your own vitals. Sometimes patients hesitate but when you start feeling signs that your internal thermostat is not working properly, get to a doctor.”