ER visits surge — along with the temperature

Health in a Heartbeat

It’s summer, the temperature is rising, and so are the number of heat-related emergencies.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospitals across the country are seeing higher numbers of emergency room visits related to heat illnesses.

And it’s not necessarily the regions with the highest temperatures that have the highest number of heat-related emergencies.

While climate change has boosted the frequency and intensity of heat waves across the country, the CDC attributes two factors to the surge in emergencies.

For one, some buildings are not designed most effectively to beat the heat. Some in the mid-Atlantic or Midwest are less likely to have air-conditioning than those in the typically sweltering South or the West.

Another factor is the inexperience some have dealing with hot, outdoor locations. Some locales simply are not designed to deal with heat. They lack infrastructure — think splash pads at parks or giant tarps made for shade.

While heat exhaustion is primarily experienced by those who work or exercise outdoors, it can happen to anyone who can’t shed heat fast enough.

It often starts with heavy sweating, cool or clammy skin, weakness, and a fast or weak pulse. Then it can progress to heatstroke, evidenced by high body temperature, a headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. A heatstroke victim can show neurological symptoms like confusion. Or they may faint.

People with underlying health conditions are at the greatest risk.

Do yourself a favor and get familiar with your local heat advisories. And if you’d like to avoid the ER, stay hydrated and stay indoors when the heat is doing its worst.