by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: June 19, 2010

Heat related illnesses are very serious. For people who aren't used to very hot weather or long stretches of extreme heat and high dew points, knowing the signs of heat exhaustion can mean the difference between life and death. We often hear about the deaths of countless low income people in major metropolitan areas of the United States who die because of the heat, mostly because they can't afford to have or use air conditioning, and especially when they have other medical problems that exacerbate the effects of the heat.

By learning how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion, you will be able to protect yourself and your loved ones from potentially suffering from something far worse such as heat stroke, and that can be the most deadly of all heat related illnesses.

Heat exhaustion can affect different people in different ways. There are some common symptoms that people may feel after being outside for a very long time, or when faced with extremely high temperatures, especially if the high heat is accompanied by humidity.

*Breathing discomfort -

Some people, especially those who have allergies and respiratory problems, may feel an uncomfortable sensation in their chest. They may feel that because of high humidity and heat, that breathing becomes difficult. This is one of the early warning signs that should alert these people that if they remain outside for too long, the situation may become much more serious. In big cities where there is a lot of traffic and congestion, the local weather people may even issue air quality alerts to advise these people that the conditions outdoors may make breathing difficult.

*Feeling extremely hot all of a sudden -

When a person breaks out into a sweat all of a sudden and it is accompanied by nausea and a feeling of faintness or dizziness, this is usually a sign that the heat is affecting them in a very adverse way. Seek shelter immediately in an air conditioned place and provide water or plain crushed ice chips so that the person gets some fast hydration. These are the feelings that many people will have before vomiting or before fainting.

*Nausea -

One of the most obvious signs of heat exhaustion is the feeling of nausea. You may begin to feel sick to your stomach after being outside for a while. At this point, the first thing you should do is look for water or some electrolyte enhanced beverage to drink. Then look for a way to get out of the heat, preferably to an air conditioned place. If nausea leads to vomiting, especially

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