Longer, warmer days inspire all of us to spend more time outdoors. The problem is that the California summer heat quickly climbs. The hotter it gets, the greater the risk of heatstroke.
The problem many people discover is that while there are warning signs that they’re starting to overheat, most either ignore these signs or fail to recognize them for what they are until it’s too late. Make this the year that you sit down and familiarize yourself with the early warning signs of heat stroke. You’ll find that knowing when you’re overheating improves your overall health and how much you enjoy the summer months.
Headaches are often the first sign that you’ve been out in the sun and heat too long. They can also be a sign of dehydration so going indoors and drinking a tall glass of cold water as soon as your head starts to throb can solve both issues before they become serious health concerns.
Keeping a mirror tucked into your pocket while you’re outside isn’t a bad idea. You can use it to keep an eye on your complexion. If you notice you’re becoming flushed, you should either get inside or at least get to a nice shady patch so you can cool down a bit.
If your skin feels hot, tight and dry, you immediately need to take steps to cool down. The fact that you feel hot but aren’t sweating isn’t a good sign. The longer you ignore the state of your skin, the greater the risk of you developing full-blown heat stroke.
Do you feel your pulse pounding in your throat or your heart hammering in your chest? This is often a sign that you’ve developed heat stroke. You need to immediately get out of the sun and start slowly cooling yourself down. If your heart rate doesn’t start to slow down after a few minutes, you’ll want to seek medical assistance.
The hotter you get, the more confused you’ll feel. Things like agitation, sudden irritation, delirium and slurred speech are signs of advancing heat stroke. Seek medical attention.
Stay cool and healthy this summer!