This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Contact a qualified health care professional before engaging in physical activity or making any changes to your diet, medications, or lifestyle.

Due to the hot temperatures, summer is a time of survival for 41-year-old Patricia Ann of Victoria, BC. Suffering from Long COVID-19, respiratory problems and other medical complications such as POTS, she can still remember facing heat domes in her Vancouver apartment in 2021 and suffering daily heat exhaustion.

“I was in really bad shape,” said Ann Yahoo Canada.”There are days in 2021 that I can’t remember where I was just lying unconscious on my floor trying to drink enough or be awake enough to get food and water. It was a constant exhaustion.”

Ann had lived in her Vancouver apartment for nearly a decade, but the heat had become unbearable in recent years. Her high-rise concrete building had no central air conditioning — since Vancouver doesn’t usually experience intense heat waves — and floor-to-ceiling windows that only allowed a small pane to open at a 45-degree angle. Ann lay on the floor with ice packs, trying not to exert herself. Although the city had set up cooling stations, they were still inaccessible to Ann because of her disability. “It was pretty bad,” she said.

Ann is one of many Canadians who have suffered heat exhaustion bordering on heat stroke. During the 2021 heat wave, more than 600 deaths were reported “due to the heat.” In the years that followed, many provinces were affected by extreme heat waves that put people’s lives and health at risk. In addition to mortality, short- and long-term exposure to heat can lead to various illnesses and hospitalizations.

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Extreme heat warnings in 2024

The 2021 heat dome was not an isolated incident. The summer of 2024 was marked by several heat waves and heat warnings from Environment Canada, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees Celsius several times across the country.

In a recent press release, Environment and Climate Change Canada said human-caused climate change has made heatwaves at least two to ten times more likely. Data from July 2024 showed that in some parts of the country, peak temperatures were more than 9 degrees above the region’s seasonal average.

Although we are already in the middle of August, it is not unusual for the high temperatures to continue into September. Yahoo Canada spoke to an expert about how to deal with heat exhaustion, what counts as heat stroke, and how Canadians can best protect themselves.

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How do heat exhaustion and heat stroke manifest themselves?

Dr. Sameer Masood, a Toronto-based emergency medicine physician with the University Health Network, said those affected are more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and less likely to suffer from heat stroke, a more advanced condition with serious consequences.

“The typical circumstance we see is when it’s been a hot day and someone hasn’t consumed a lot of fluids like water or electrolytes,” Masood said. He also cites other situations, such as when someone is doing strenuous outdoor activities, like playing sports or running a marathon.

According to Health Canada, older people, young children, people with chronic illnesses and people who work or exercise outdoors are most at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

According to Masood, the most common symptoms of heat stroke can be:

• Dehydration

• Heavy sweating

• Red cheeks

• Mild nausea

• dizziness

• fatigue

Symptoms can vary from person to person and Masood added that babies may show restlessness and irritability.

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How do you treat heat exhaustion?

Treating heat exhaustion starts with hydration and finding an area to cool down. “Those are the most important priorities,” Masood said. That means, if you’re outside, moving to an air-conditioned room or finding a shady spot.

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When should you go to the hospital for heat exhaustion?

If you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from heat exhaustion, Masood recommends monitoring your symptoms for half an hour to an hour.

If your symptoms improve with staying in a cool room and drinking fluids, and “you don’t feel dizzy or tired and you don’t feel as red, nauseous or vomiting,” he says it makes sense to keep going and not go to the hospital.

However, if your symptoms are not relieved and even worsen, Masood recommends hospitalization to rule out heat stroke.

Masood said heat stroke can present with neurological symptoms — like confusion or disorientation — and then it can progress to something more serious, like a seizure. “You look really uncomfortable and feel really uncomfortable,” he said. “You can end up in a coma or have some other degree of altered mental state.”

He adds that the body’s natural mechanisms to cool you down, such as sweating or thirst, may also stop working. “When you experience heat stroke, you actually have very dry skin because your body essentially can’t compensate for the heat by sweating.” In addition, Masood said, you may faint or experience a rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure.

People who suffer from heat stroke may need to be hospitalized for a few days to relieve their symptoms.

Prevention is key

As with most things in medicine, Masood said, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are best combatted with preventative measures. If you plan to spend some time outside on a hot day, be sure to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks from strenuous activities.

Masood also recommends wearing loose clothing. “In contrast to wearing tight clothing, heat can be released and transferred more easily,” he says.

For Ann, being in BC meant not only heat domes but also poor air quality due to wildfires. If you have respiratory issues, monitoring air quality can also help prevent potential health risks.

In conclusion, Masood said the people most likely to suffer from heat stroke are those who don’t think much about it – like children or elderly parents. “So just talk to your family members and friends and give them advice if you can. It can be really important to keep these things in mind.”

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