What should you know about summer exhaustion?

Heat increases the effort needed to regulate body temperature. Sweating can reduce fluid and salt in the body, while poor sleep, long days outdoors, alcohol, infection, or missed meals can add to fatigue. If tiredness continues after you cool down and rest, it may not be caused by the weather alone. Fatigue can occur with dehydration, anaemia, burnout, COVID-19, or other conditions, each with different clues and treatments.

Move to a cool place, loosen tight clothing, and rest. Sip water regularly; if you have been sweating heavily, ask a pharmacist or clinician whether an oral rehydration drink is suitable. Eat a light balanced meal, avoid alcohol, and schedule demanding activity for a cooler part of the day. Track when the exhaustion starts, your sleep, fluids, medicines, and any fever, diarrhoea, breathlessness, or pain.

Seek urgent medical help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, trouble breathing, chest pain, inability to drink, very little urine, or skin that is hot with worsening symptoms. Arrange a medical assessment if fatigue lasts beyond a short period of cooling and rest, keeps returning, or affects work and daily activities. A clinician can review medicines and check for problems such as anaemia, kidney disease, or infection.

Could my medicines, sleep, mood, or fluid intake be contributing? Which symptoms would make this urgent? Do I need an examination or blood tests for anaemia, infection, thyroid problems, or another cause?