STOCKTON, Calif. — As September temperatures break all-time records in Northern California, working or exercising in the heat can be downright dangerous.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 11,000 people have died in the U.S. from 1979 to 2018 from heat-related causes.
"If you go out in the heat and you start to sweat, that's the body's way to cool the body. That's a good sign, but if you stop doing sweating, you become more tired and then you have changes in cognition," said Dr. Tom Hopkins.
There are two kinds of heat-related illnesses: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, Heat Exhaustion can include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, headache, nausea and more. Heat Stroke can include an extremely high body temperature of about 103 degrees and red, hot and dry skin with no sweating.
"You get those feelings, where they're happening - think brain changes, nausea, vomiting, then you're into more of the risk of heat stroke," Hopkins said.
95 degrees is believed to be the height of what a human body can tolerate. After that, "your body won't be able to lose heat to the environment efficiently enough to maintain its core temperature," according to the MIT Technology Review.
That's why keeping cool and drinking enough water is important. The CDC says that when it comes to drinking fluids, people should increase their fluid intake regardless of their activity level. The CDC says not to wait until you're thirsty.
If the temperature is 80-85 degrees, working or exercising in direct sunlight will stress the body after 45 minutes. However, when it is 90 degrees and above, the body will stress after only 15 minutes.
Other tips to keep cool include not drinking alcohol, wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing and spending more time in an air conditioned place, according to National Weather Service.
WATCH ALSO:
