It’s tempting to spend as much time as possible outside before summer winds to a close, but with much of the United States facing extreme heat, you should be prepared for heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion. According to experts, there are several products that can help you beat the heat.
First, what do you even need to prepare for? “Heat exhaustion is a condition that occurs when your body’s normal cooling mechanisms are overcome by conditions that raise your temperature,” Dr. Daniel Bachmann, an emergency medicine physician and professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told HuffPost.
Heat exhaustion can be the gateway to something more serious. “It’s the body’s warning signal before more severe heat-related illnesses occur, such as heat stroke,” said Dr. John Gallucci Jr., a dual-licensed physical therapist and athletic trainer and the CEO of JAG Physical Therapy. “If left untreated, heat exhaustion can escalate quickly, so recognizing these early signs is crucial to ensure safety.”
If you’ve never experienced heat exhaustion, it may feel different than expected. “What many people miss is that heat exhaustion doesn’t always feel like you’re ‘hot,’” said Cheryl Nelson, a meteorologist and FEMA-certified natural disaster and travel preparedness expert. Nelson is also the CEO of Prepare with Cher, LLC. “In fact, you may feel chilly or suddenly exhausted — which is why it’s so important to know the full range of symptoms.”
