Health: Preventing Heat Related Health Problems

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Today's excessive heat can take a toll on your health.  With Philadelphia under a heat advisory, the city's health department is warning everyone to be smart in this weather, and certain people need to take more precautions.

Talk about hot, people working outdoors are feeling it big time.  While kids cool off at the Roberto Clemente Park.  People everywhere were downing plenty of liquids.

Doctors warn the heat is something that needs to be taken seriously.

"Prevention is the key.  If you don't have to be outside in the heat, don't be outside.  Don't do anything strenuous in the heat if you can avoid it," said Dr. Ralph Riviello, an Emergency Medicine Specialist at Hahnemann University Hospital.  He says during these hot months they have plenty of IV fluids ready to go.  Salt water into the bloodstream is the first course of treatment for people complaining of heat related illnesses.

Certain people are most at risk.

"The elderly, patients on certain medications, those who are outside overexerting themselves, it can have pretty serious and potentially deadly consequences," said Dr. Riviello.  He says it's important to catch any signs of trouble early.

"If you feel like you're getting sick, maybe more tired than you should feel, getting a little nauseated or anything like that you should go inside into an air conditioned area," said Dr. Riviello.

Symptoms that indicate a more serious heat related illness include altered mental status, rapid heart rate, seizures even a coma.

For more information, visit:

CDC Extreme Heat Information- http://www.cdc.gov/extremeheat/