The way we experience heat depends not only on the sun's rays, the temperature and humidity. Physical exertion, health, eating patterns sweat count are just as important. The heat index can help you prevent heat stress. In the alert zone for example, you can take extra rest and drink extra water.

Heat stress can cause the following problems:

Heat rash
When the skin is wet for a long time, the openings of the sweat glands become blocked. The result: Skin complaints such as itching and blistering.

Heat cramp
Your body can sometimes produce so much sweat that you lose excessive amounts of salt. Serious cramp in the muscles gives an important signal: slow down.

Heat exhaustion
The most important thing to do in extreme heat is to drink plenty of water. Excessive heat loss will otherwise result in too quick a heart rate, reduced resistance and poorer concentration.

Heat syncope (fainting)
If you continue to ignore all the red signals, you will eventually faint.
The heat requires too much blood to be transported to the skin in order to sweat, so that the brain does not receive enough blood. This phase is usually accompanied by headaches, nausea and diarrhoea.

Heat stroke
Red and dry skin, cramp, convulsions and loss of ocnsciousness. This is the most serious effect of heat stress, whereby your internal body temperature is more than 41 degrees.