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| WHAT ARE HEAT ILLNESSES? |
| When exercising in very hot or humid weather, your body can become overheated. Problems such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke may occur. |
| HOW DO THEY OCCUR? |
| During exercise your body produces heat and your temperature rises. Your body has ways of cooling itself naturally, one of which is by sweating. When sweat evaporates, it cools your skin. When the temperature is too hot or when there is too much humidity, sweating may no longer cool your body enough to keep your temperature from rising to dangerous levels. If your temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, your body can lose the ability to cool itself. Becoming dehydrated can also lead to heat illness. |
| WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? |
| As your body gets hotter and is unable to cool down, symptoms progress. First, you may become dehydrated and get heat cramps. If not treated, your symptoms could become more severe, and you could eventually develop a more serious problem such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. |
| Symptoms of heat cramps are: |
| Rising body temperature |
| Dizziness |
| Weakness |
| Nausea |
| Vomiting |
| Muscle aches |
| Headaches |
| Increased sweating |
| Symptoms of heatstroke are: |
| Body temperature of 104 degrees F or higher |
| No sweating |
| Confusion and disorientation |
| Erratic behavior |
| Agitation |
| Seizures |
| Coma |
| Injury to body organs |
| HOW ARE THEY DIAGNOSED? |
| Your doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms. |
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