Infants and children younger than 4 and adults older than 65 are at higher risk of heat exhaustion. Overdressing, particularly in clothes that don't allow sweat to evaporate easily.Īnyone can get heat illness, but certain factors increase your sensitivity to heat.Alcohol use, which can affect your body's ability to regulate your temperature.Dehydration, which lessens your body's ability to sweat and keep a normal temperature.Other causesīesides hot weather and strenuous activity, other causes of heat exhaustion include: Other treatments for heat cramps include getting into cooler temperatures, such as an air-conditioned or shaded place, and resting. Prompt treatment may prevent heat cramps from progressing to more-serious heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion.ĭrinking fluids or sports drinks that have electrolytes (Gatorade, Powerade, others) can help treat heat cramps. Symptoms of heat cramps often include heavy sweating, fatigue, thirst and muscle cramps. Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat-related illness. But when you exercise strenuously or otherwise overexert in hot, humid weather, your body is less able to cool itself efficiently.Īs a result, heat cramps may start in your body. The evaporation of your sweat regulates your body temperature. In hot weather, your body cools itself mainly by sweating. The average core temperature is about 98.6 F (37 C). Your body needs to regulate heat gain in hot weather or heat loss in cold weather to keep a core temperature that's typical for you. The body's heat combined with environmental heat results in what's called your core temperature.

The symptoms of being human