Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion happens when your body overheats and cannot cool itself down. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, and muscle cramps. Without quick cooling, it can turn into heat stroke, a medical emergency.

What Is It

Heat exhaustion is most common during hot, humid weather, outdoor work, and sports practice. Children, older adults, and people on certain medicines are at higher risk. Heat stroke is more serious. The body temperature climbs above 104 degrees, and the brain is affected.

Symptoms

Heavy sweating
Cool, pale, clammy skin
Dizziness or feeling faint
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle cramps and weakness

Not sure it’s heat exhaustion? Dark urine, thirst, and dizziness may be dehydration. Painful red skin after time outdoors is a sunburn.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider checks temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure and looks for dehydration. Treatment is cooling and replacing fluids. Signs of heat stroke need emergency care.

At home:

Move to a cool, shaded, or air conditioned place
Loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloths
Sip water or a sports drink slowly
Rest and avoid heat for the rest of the day

Most people feel better within 30 minutes to a few hours of cooling and fluids.

When to Get Care for Heat Exhaustion

Watch at Home

Mild cramps or tiredness that improve within 30 minutes of cooling
Able to drink and keep fluids down

Come to Urgent Care Today

Symptoms that do not improve within an hour of cooling
Vomiting that makes it hard to drink
Dizziness or headache that keeps returning
Heat symptoms in a child or older adult

Go to the Emergency Department

Body temperature of 104 degrees or higher
Confusion, slurred speech, or acting strangely
Fainting or a seizure
Hot, dry skin or sweating that has stopped
A fast, strong pulse with a severe headache

FAQ

What are the first signs of heat exhaustion?

The first signs of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, headache, and muscle cramps. Move to a cool place and drink fluids right away.

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Heat exhaustion causes heavy sweating, dizziness, and nausea. Heat stroke is more serious, with a temperature of 104 degrees or higher, confusion, and sometimes no sweating. Heat stroke needs 911.

How do you cool down from heat exhaustion?

Cool down from heat exhaustion by moving to shade or air conditioning, loosening clothing, applying cool wet cloths, and sipping water or a sports drink slowly.

How long does heat exhaustion last?

Heat exhaustion usually improves within 30 minutes to a few hours of cooling and fluids. You may feel tired for a day, so avoid heat and heavy activity.

Can urgent care treat heat exhaustion?

Yes, urgent care can treat heat exhaustion. At Vitality Urgent Care, a provider can check your vital signs and look for signs of heat stroke.

When is heat exhaustion an emergency?

Heat exhaustion becomes an emergency when there is confusion, fainting, a seizure, or a temperature of 104 degrees or higher. These are signs of heat stroke. Call 911.

Last reviewed October 2026