Infinity Group Medical Director, Dr Krish Rawal addresses the rising temperatures this summer and heat-related illnesses we should be aware of.

So what exactly happened to the weather? Someone just turned the heat lamp on! So now we are all cooking and struggling to catch up with our hydration, so I figured now would be a good time to cover heat-related illnesses.

Heat-related illnesses are becoming an increasingly significant public health concern as extreme heat events become more frequent worldwide. The condition encompasses a spectrum of disorders ranging from mild heat cramps and heat rash to life-threatening heatstroke. Older adults, young children, pregnant women, athletes, outdoor workers, and people with chronic medical conditions are particularly vulnerable. Certain medications including diuretics, antidepressants, anticholinergics, and antipsychotics, can also increase susceptibility to heat-related illness.

Heat-related illnesses are broadly classified into two types: classic heat illness and exertional heat illness. Classic heat illness occurs when environmental temperatures overwhelm the body’s ability to dissipate heat and primarily affects vulnerable individuals. Exertional heat illness however, results from excessive heat generated during physical activity and can occur even in moderate weather conditions. Symptoms vary according to severity and may include muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, headache, nausea, dizziness, fainting, and, in severe cases, confusion, collapse, and multi-organ dysfunction.

Heatstroke represents the most serious form of heat-related illness and is a medical emergency. When the body’s temperature regulation fails, a rapid rise in core temperature can lead to cardiovascular collapse, systemic inflammation, and damage to multiple organs, including the brain. Patients may present with flushed or pale skin, rapid breathing, low blood pressure, and altered mental status. Prompt recognition and treatment are essential, as prolonged elevation of body temperature significantly worsens prognosis.

Management depends on the severity of the illness, but rapid cooling remains the cornerstone of treatment for severe cases. Interestingly enough immersion in ice water is still considered the most effective method to cool the body, although if somebody is very unwell I would guess it would be quite brutal to immerse them in ice water, and in a heat wave the ice may very well be scarce! Pouring cool water over someone and using fans can also promote heat loss by the movement of the cool water and cool air over the skin, and allowing the heat to dissipate not only from the peripheries but also from the core. Mild and moderate heat illnesses generally respond to cooling measures, rest, and oral rehydration.

So the main reasons for this article are just for us all to be aware that as we continue our training regimes throughout the summer, we are generating more heat and as a result we need to make sure we keep cool and hydrate even more than we have been. Hydration is crucial for muscle function and muscle recovery, and you may find a few training sessions where the muscles feel much more sore the next day, which may be simply that the body needs more hydration. The other reason for this article is just to make us all just a little more aware, particularly when we are on the beach by the pool, of anyone around us who might just be getting a bit too much sun and heat.

Happy summer everyone!!