NWA doctor gives tips to avoid heat exhaustion [Video]

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As temperatures rise in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, so does the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

About 1,220 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC).

The most serious risk factor for heat-related illness is underestimating the heat’s effect on our bodies, Doctor Hugh Jackson, medical director for Mercy Health’s emergency department, said.

“The big deal really is recognizing those symptoms before they get to highest intensity of symptoms, and they can be fairly subtle,” Dr. Jackson said.

Cooling shelters in NWA and the River Valley

Ready.gov defines extreme heat as a weather that stays “above 90 degrees for at least two to three days.”

Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, occur when the body cannot effectively cool itself.

The body usually cools down by sweating, but in extreme heat or humidity, this may not be enough. If the …