Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 65,000 Americans visit an emergency room for acute heat illness each summer.
With global warming, those statistics could get dramatically worse. By 2099, annual heat-related deaths will increase by “thousands to tens of thousands” in the U.S. alone, according to the federal U.S. Global Change Research project.
Whether running a marathon or doing yard work, exercisers should be aware of the possibility of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat cramps are muscle spasms or pains, often in the legs, which can occur during intense exercise. If you get heat cramps, stop physical activity, move to a cool place and sip water or a sports drink. Get medical help if the cramps last for more than an hour, or you have heart problems or you’re on a low-sodium diet.
With heat exhaustion, signs include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, a fast and
