Tech Resources Agriculture Employers Distribution Economic Dev. The agonizing heat combined with the active and outdoor lifestyles of Texans has the potential for creating serious health risks. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are common summertime dangers and if symptoms are not recognized and treated early enough, they can lead to death. Luckily there are a methods for avoiding and treating heat-related illnesses. Consuming plenty of water is a crucial defense against heat-related illnesses.
Water delivers oxygen to muscles and cools the body.
During exercise muscles can generate eight to ten times more heat than during other activities. The human body sweats in order to help cool down and while exercising a person can easily sweat away two liters of water per hour. That water must be replaced. Simply stated, if a person does not replace the fluids lost through sweat, then the body loses its ability to sweat and cool off, causing the entire system to want to shut down. This allows the body to adjust fluid levels.