Extreme Heat and Your Health

Key points

  • Heat related deaths and illnesses are preventable. Despite this fact, approximately 1,220 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year.
  • This website provides helpful tips, information, and resources to help you stay safe in the extreme heat this summer.

What is extreme heat?

Spotlight‎

Enter your zip code to get the HeatRisk for this week and find actions you can take to keep you and your family safe. Healthcare professionals, learn how to support patients with heat information here.
Sun reflecting on a lawn of grass
Take steps to protect yourself from extreme heat.

Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average. Because some places are hotter than others, this depends on what’s considered average for a particular location at that time of year. Humid and muggy conditions can make it seem hotter than it really is.

Health effects

Man wiping sweat off face while standing in the sun.
Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. While the body normally cools itself by sweating, during extreme heat, this might not be enough. In these cases, a person's body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.

Some factors that might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness include:

  • High levels of humidity
  • Obesity
  • Fever
  • Dehydration
  • Prescription drug use
  • Heart disease
  • Mental illness
  • Poor circulation
  • Sunburn
  • Alcohol use
Infographic: Beat the Heat: Extreme Heat. Preventing heat-related deaths.
Beat the Heat: Extreme Heat Infographic

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Who is at increased risk

Diverse group of children smiling and embracing outside
Know what factors can make you more likely to get sick from extreme heat.

Older adults, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. However, even young and healthy people can be affected if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.

Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with actions that help the body cool itself to prevent heat-related illness. Use this website to learn more on how to stay safe in the heat this summer, including how to prevent, recognize, and cope with heat-related illness.

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Tips to stay safe

Young woman sitting on a couch and turning on the air conditioning with a remote.
Protect yourself when it's hot by staying cool, hydrated, and informed.

Protect yourself and others when it's hot outside by staying cool, staying hydrated, and staying informed. Learn additional tips for staying safe during extreme heat.

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Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Environmental Health