Why Extreme Heat Kills So Quickly
An overlooked force fuses with extreme temperatures to create dangerous, even deadly conditions. What to know and do.
This article is part of a Wise & Well Special Report: Extreme Heat and Human Health.
One recent summer morning, I checked off a bucket list item: I hiked the beautiful Paria Canyon in Arizona. Mesmerized, I wandered through its rainbow-streaked cliffs, sandstone arches, and red rock amphitheaters.
Before I realized it, the sun was high in the sky and my single hydration container was empty. Thirsty and fatigued, I began the long trek back — a shadeless, 3-mile slog through shifting sand. It didn’t take long for me to start feeling the effects.
I was sweaty and dizzy. My heart was pounding. Despite the searing heat, I felt freezing cold. The next thing I knew, I was facedown on the trail.
Fortunately, my hiking mates recognized the signs of heat stroke. They picked me up, carried me to the shady trailhead, and gave me cool sips of water. Their quick thinking — along with the fact that I was in good physical condition — helped me recover quickly, with no long-term effects.
Many people aren’t so lucky. In the United States, heat is the number-one cause of…
