Q: I always seem to get stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea when I am working outside for too long in hot or humid weather. Can you explain why this happens and how I can prevent it? Is it true or a myth that sudden changes in weather can make you sick?
A: There is no evidence that sudden changes of weather or storms can make you sick, but various medical conditions can occur in a person who is not acclimatized to working in hot conditions.
Heat exhaustion is caused by loss of body water and salt through excessive sweating. Some symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness, thirst, nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and numbness of the hands and feet. Recovery occurs quickly after resting for a while in a cool area and consuming cold drinks.
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Heat edema is swelling of the feet and ankles. Recovery occurs after a day or two in a cool environment.
Heat rashes, known as prickly heat, are tiny red spots on the skin, which cause a prickling sensation. This is caused when the ducts of sweat glands become plugged in certain areas of the skin.
Heat cramps are due to a salt imbalance resulting from failure to replace salt lost by sweating. Cramps most often occur when people drink large amounts of water without sufficient electrolyte replacement.
Heat syncope is heat-induced giddiness and fainting induced by temporarily insufficient flow of blood to the brain. It occurs mostly among people who stand for too long and are not used to the heat.
In addition to loss of body fluids through sweating, there is lowered blood pressure due to pooling of blood in the legs. Recovery is rapid after resting in a cool area.
More dangerous are heat stroke and hyperpyrexia, an elevated body temperature. Signs of heat stroke include a body temperature greater than 41 C and complete or partial loss of consciousness.
The signs of heat hyperpyrexia are similar, except that the skin remains moist. Classical heat stroke is where there is little or no sweating, usually in children, chronically ill patients and the elderly. Exertional heat stroke can occur when the body temperature rises because of strenuous exercise. These conditions require immediate medical attention to avoid damage to the brain, kidneys and heart.
Treatment may involve removal of the victim’s clothing and spraying the body with cold water. Fanning increases evaporation and further cools the body. Do not immerse the person in cold water because this can be harmful and must be done only under medical supervision.
