Q&A: Staying safe in extreme heat

With summer in full swing, extreme heat is following closely behind. As hospitalization visits increase, it’s important to be aware of the dangers and preventative measures you can take to stay safe in increasing temperatures.

M Health Fairview Hospitalist Vishnu Laalitha Surapaneni, MBBS, MPH, also with the University of Minnesota Medical School, discusses extreme heat and the effect it can have on Minnesotans.

What are the effects of extreme heat?

Extreme summer heat can affect our health in many ways. Direct effects include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be fatal. Symptoms start with prolonged exposure to extreme heat — being outdoors or staying inside homes with limited ventilation and air conditioning. Physical activity and dehydration also increase risk. Symptoms can include headaches, body aches, nausea, dizziness and, in more severe cases, confusion, collapse, hot dry skin, and high body temperatures of over 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Not everyone will have all these symptoms before they have severe impacts from extreme heat. Being heat-vigilant can help save lives.

There are also more complex ways heat can affect us. For example, heat worsens air quality, which leads to ER visits and hospitalizations for asthma attacks and heart attacks. Those with heart failure, kidney disease, or mental health disorders may see their illness worsen due to extreme heat.