How Extreme Heat Makes People Sick

Extreme heat can make people sick. Every year, worldwide, it kills hundreds of thousands of people. Some illnesses can be avoided, but people have to follow a set of rules. 

Medscape recently published a study titled “Burning Up? A Guide To Recognizing And Managing Heat Illness.” The symptoms range from rashes to unconsciousness. The worst perils to health start when the body temperature rises above 104.9 degrees F.

Shade Is Important

People need to seek shade when they can. People should cut down on strenuous outdoor activity. When it is hot enough, they should not go out at all. 

Among the primary reasons people get sick are bad habits. People who drink heavily face a greater likelihood of getting ill. 

Pre-existing health problems create a problem of their own. Obesity is at the top of the list. At least a third of Americans are obese, which means it is close to a universal challenge during periods of high heat. 

External factors do not strictly measure health problems. Those exposed to high levels of heat can enter an “altered mental state.”

One way to measure heat-related illnesses is with a simple thermometer. These are considered “accurate” to measure internal body temperature.

The number of places where it will be over 100 degrees F or more this summer will be high. That means, so will health and illness.