Summer Is Getting Hotter: Essential Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses

All posts are written personally by Dr. Oh Jeong-min, director of Dr. Oh Clinic.

Summer Health Management Tips from a Family Medicine Specialist

In recent years, summer heat waves have been becoming increasingly severe. It is easy to think of them as simply “hot weather,” but high-temperature environments can place strain on the body’s temperature-regulation functions and cause various heat-related illnesses.

Older adults, children, and people with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable. However, even healthy adults may require emergency-room treatment after prolonged outdoor activities or exercise, so caution is necessary.

What Are Heat-Related Illnesses?

Heat-related illnesses refer to conditions that occur when exposure to a high-temperature environment prevents the body’s temperature-regulation functions from working properly.

Our bodies release heat by sweating and dilating the blood vessels in the skin. However, if the surrounding temperature is excessively high or the humidity is high enough to prevent sweat from evaporating, body temperature continues to rise.

As body temperature rises, the body becomes deficient in fluids and electrolytes. In severe cases, damage may occur to major organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.

Common Heat-Related Illnesses

1. Heat Cramps

Muscle cramps that occur after heavy sweating in a hot environment.

They mainly affect the calf, thigh, and abdominal muscles and are common among athletes and outdoor workers.

Symptoms

• Sudden muscle cramps

• Heavy sweating

• Thirst

• Fatigue

What to Do

• Stop the activity

• Rest in a cool place

• Replenish fluids and electrolytes

2. Heat Syncope

Temporary fainting that occurs when blood pressure drops after standing for a long time in a hot environment or standing up suddenly.

Symptoms

• Dizziness

• Darkening vision

• Temporary loss of consciousness

What to Do

• Lay the person down and elevate their legs

• Move them to a cool place

• Replenish fluids

Most people recover, but medical attention is needed if it happens repeatedly or consciousness does not return promptly.

3. Heat Exhaustion

A relatively common heat-related illness that can progress to heat stroke if not treated appropriately.

Body temperature is generally below 40°C, but fluid and electrolyte depletion has already progressed considerably.

Symptoms

• Severe fatigue

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Excessive sweating

• Rapid heart rate

What to Do

• Move immediately to a cool place

• Loosen clothing

• Drink water or an electrolyte beverage

• Apply cold compresses

Medical attention is needed if symptoms persist or oral fluid intake is difficult.

The Most Dangerous Heat-Related Illness: Heat Stroke

4. Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a medical emergency.

It occurs when the body’s temperature-regulation function completely fails, causing the core body temperature to rise above 40°C along with central nervous system abnormalities.

Delayed treatment can result in death, and even survivors may be left with neurological aftereffects.

Key Symptoms

• Reduced level of consciousness

• Confusion

• Abnormal behavior

• Seizures

• Loss of consciousness

In the past, heat stroke was known for being characterized by “a lack of sweating,”

but in reality, sweating may be observed in many patients with heat stroke.

Therefore,

high-temperature exposure + changes in consciousness

should immediately raise suspicion of heat stroke.

First Aid

• Call 119 immediately

• Move the person to a cool place

• Remove their clothing

• Apply cold compresses to the neck, armpits, and groin

• Cool the entire body if possible

Do not force fluids on a patient with reduced consciousness because of the risk of aspiration.

Who Is Especially at Risk?

The risk of heat-related illness increases in the following situations.

High-Risk Groups

• Adults aged 65 and older

• Infants and young children

• Pregnant people

• People with obesity

• People with heart disease

• People with diabetes

• People with chronic kidney disease

Medications Requiring Caution

• Diuretics

• Anticholinergic drugs

• Some antidepressants

• Antipsychotic medications

• Beta blockers

These medications may affect sweating or the body’s ability to regulate temperature.

The Best Ways to Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses

1. Drink Water Before You Feel Thirsty

Thirst is a sign that mild dehydration may have already begun.

Older adults, in particular, should consciously consume fluids because their ability to feel thirst may decrease.

2. Reduce Activities During the Hottest Hours

It is best to avoid prolonged outdoor activities whenever possible between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Exercise is recommended in the early morning or evening.

3. Wear Well-Ventilated Clothing

• Light colors

• Loose-fitting clothing

• Materials that absorb sweat well

can be helpful.

4. Take Extra Precautions During Heat-Wave Advisories

If the Korea Meteorological Administration issues a heat-wave advisory,

it means the environment may pose a health risk, rather than being merely “a little hot.”

Older adults and other vulnerable people need sufficient cooling even indoors.

Worrying About Air-Conditioning-Related Illness

Avoiding air conditioning may be more dangerous

One statement I often hear in the consultation room is:

“I don’t turn on the air conditioner often because the cold air is bad for my body.”

However, during a heat wave, the risk of heat-related illness caused by insufficient cooling may be much greater than the discomfort caused by air conditioning.

It is important to maintain an appropriate indoor temperature and consume sufficient fluids.

Conclusion

Heat-related illness is not simply a matter of feeling overheated.

Heat stroke, in particular, is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening if treatment is delayed.

If you experience a headache, dizziness, or severe fatigue in summer, do not dismiss it as merely feeling under the weather.

Consider the possibility of heat-related illness first.

Avoiding heat waves, consuming sufficient fluids,

and promptly resting and cooling the body when unusual symptoms appear—

these are the most basic yet most important principles for preventing heat-related illnesses.

This was Dr. Oh Jeong-min, a family medicine specialist at Dr. Oh Clinic, caring not only for your beauty but also for your health.

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