Heat related illness can be dangerous or even deadly

JACKSONVILLE – Right now we're well above the seasonal average and depending on where you are it feels like triple digits.  The sun is brutal and it can take a toll on your body.

"Stay hydrated avoid heat exhaustion which could get worse and cause a heat stroke," says Dr. Shalaka Ghate at Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Ghate at Memorial Hospital says water is the really the key to surviving the summer and listening to your body.   Heat Exhaustion is a heat related illness that can occur when you've been exposed to high temperatures and it's often tied to dehydration.


"You can see weakness like lethargic feeling, nausea, even vomiting some people might have.  There is a decrease sweating and dizziness just not feeling well," says Ghate.

Others symptoms can include confusion and dark colored urine, which means you're dehydrated.  If this happens you need to stop what you're doing.

"Drink water, cool off, try not to wear clothes that are too tight and get in a shadier place and try to cool off to get that temperature down," says Ghate.

You should start to feel better in 15 minutes, if you don't you might want to check with your doctor, but Dr. Ghate says you should still take it easy even after you feel better.

"I would make sure to rest for a couple of hours before you go back to any exercise or any activity," says Ghate.

Heat Stroke is also a risk in the summer.  It's much more serious and can happen without any symptoms.  It's considered an emergency and can be deadly.  Symptoms include throbbing headache, dizziness, lack of sweating, rapid heartbeat and breathing.  Statistics show it mainly effects people older than 50 but anyone