How heat hurts

As the temperature outdoors soars, you can see its e ect on the outside of your body as you start to drip sweat and your skin turns red. What you may not realize is how the heat a ects the inside of your body.

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Brain
When the temperature outside goes up, so does the temperature of your brain. This can explain why people sometimes get confused when they spend too much time in the heat.

The e ects you can see

Too much water
Sweat: Your body sweats to keeps its temperature at 98.6 degrees. Sunburn: One of the most
obvious signs of UV exposure and skin damage. Often marked by redness and peeling.

The e ects you cant see

Hot, humid air can trigger asthma
The lining of the airways become swollen and inamed. The muscles that surround the airways tighten. The production of mucus is increased, leading to mucus plugs.

(rare) Water poisoning and Dilutes calcium lls, sodium in your ce ell causing them to sw ) (brain cells included

w Not enough fatater igue,

Dehydration edness dizziness, light head and diarrhea ys Hypertherima (bod at tion of more he produc e) than it can dissipat severe in fever, seizures andma and cases shock, co sudden death)

Heat Rash: An intense itching and prickly feeling in affected areas of the skin due to overheating. In severe forms heat rash can interfere with the body's heat-regulation, causing fever, heat exhaustion, and even death. Freckles/Moles:
Caused by too much sun exposure. When the melanocytes in the skin get damaged by the sun, we produce freckles which are abnormal collections of melanin pigment.

Heart

When you sweat, your heart has to work harder to pump blood with oxygen and nutrients to the bodys tissues. Your body sends extra blood to the vital organs to keep them functioning and to the skin to keep it cool.

Stomach

Kidneys

killed by excessive heat exposure

between 1979 and 2003. Thats more than the number who died from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes and oods.

8,015 Americans were

If you get heatstroke your body will have a severly elevated body temperature which will cause an altered mental state, dizziness and/or loss of consciousness. Heatstroke can cause muscles to break down, which leads to kidney failure.

Protect your body in the heat!

Eat foods that are easy to digest, like simple carbs Stay away from alcohol & caffene Drink water or sports drinks Avoid food high in protein or fat

Since your body is sending extra blood to vital organs, your belly gets less blood, so digestion becomes less of a priority. This is why you often dont feel like eating or drinking, or sometimes feel sick.

Sources: thchart.blogs.cnn.com; Chain Reaction

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA MARTIN/QMI AGENCY