Exercise: Signs of Overheating

Sweat is a good sign that your body is effectively cooling itself. Sweating draws the heat from inside the body to the outside, cooling the body as it evaporates. Your body places a high priority on shifting fluid wastes away from your muscles to avoid overheating.

Overheating is more likely to occur early in the summer season when an untrained body has not adjusted to hot weather or when temperatures and/or humidity are high. However, it can occur at any time, both indoors and outdoors.

Signs of overheating
The following are signs of overheating:

• Headache and weakness
• Dizziness or fainting
• Increased heart rate and respiration
• Drop in blood pressure
• Flushed skin
• Feeling very hot, sometimes followed by chills

How to prevent overheating
These tips may help prevent overheating:

• Wear loose fitting clothes
• Wear clothing made of wicking material, which allows sweat to evaporate
• Keep well hydrated:
  • If your workout is intense or if it is very hot or humid, drink 7-10 ounces every 15-20 minutes throughout your practice
  • Water is adequate for rehydrating for workouts or events that last less than 1 hour, especially if it is not too hot or humid
  • You might need a sports drink containing carbohydrates and electrolytes to replace minerals lost through sweat for workouts or events lasting more than 1 hour