Heatwave Health: Recognising Heat Exhaustion

Heat-health alerts are currently in place across much of England, and most people underestimate how quickly heat can affect the body — especially children, older adults, and anyone with an existing health condition. Knowing the difference between “feeling rough in the heat” and a genuine emergency can make all the difference.

Heat Exhaustion vs Heatstroke — Know the Difference

Heat Exhaustion (not usually an emergency, but needs action)

• Heavy sweating, cool clammy skin
• Headache, dizziness, nausea
• Tiredness, muscle cramps
• Fast breathing or pulse

Move to a cool place, remove excess clothing, sip water, and cool the skin with a damp cloth or cool bath. Most people recover within 30 minutes with these steps.

Heatstroke (a medical emergency)

• Body temperature of 40°C or higher
• Hot, dry skin that has stopped sweating
• Confusion, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness
• Rapid heartbeat, fast shallow breathing

If heat exhaustion doesn't improve within 30 minutes of cooling down, or any of the above symptoms appear, call 999. Heatstroke can cause organ damage within minutes and needs emergency treatment.

Who's Most at Risk

• Babies and young children — can't regulate body temperature well and may not communicate feeling unwell
• Adults over 65 — reduced ability to sweat and adjust to heat, often compounded by medication
• People on certain medications — diuretics, blood pressure medication, and some antidepressants can affect how the body handles heat
• Anyone with heart, lung or kidney conditions — the body has to work harder in the heat, adding strain

Practical Steps for Hot Weather

• Stay hydrated throughout the day, not just when thirsty — thirst is a late signal
• Keep homes cool: close curtains on sun-facing windows during the day, open windows when it's cooler outside
• Avoid the midday sun (11am–3pm) for outdoor activity or exercise
• Check on elderly relatives or neighbours living alone, especially during multi-day heat alerts

Medication and Heat — Worth Checking

Several common medications, including some blood pressure treatments and antidepressants, can make people more vulnerable to heat-related illness or affect how well their body copes. If you're on regular medication and feeling unusually unwell in hot weather, it's worth a conversation with a doctor rather than assuming it will pass.