In the summertime, people are naturally more active as the warm temperatures, long holiday weekends, and summer vacations are filled with recreational activities. Unfortunately, these factors can all lead to an increased number of visits to the urgent care clinic. Here are four common conditions physicians may be more likely to see.

Dehydration

When your water doesn't have as much water as it needs to function properly, problems arise. Extreme heat results in the body sweating more, in an effort to keep cool. This causes more water loss than usual. Urinating, defecating, crying, and even breathing lead to additional water loss. Drinking water and eating food are the only ways to add more water to the body without medical intervention. The problem is, once the human body reaches the point of dehydration, it can be difficult to restore balance, as diarrhea and vomiting may occur. These symptoms lead to further water loss.

People often don't realize they aren't drinking enough water until it is too late. This is especially true in the elderly and young children. The urine becomes concentrated and dark, the heartbeat and breathing can become rapid, and confusion can set in. Once dehydration causes severe symptoms, a visit to an urgent care clinic is in order. Dehydration is typically treated with the administration of intravenous fluid replacement.

Heat Exhaustion

When the body is no longer able to efficiently cool itself, heat exhaustion can occur. In addition to signs of dehydration, a person may have clammy skin, muscle cramps, and dizziness from low blood pressure, when suffering from heat exhaustion. The person needs to move to cooler temperatures immediately and replenish their fluids. Often, this requires a trip to an urgent care clinic, because, if symptoms worsen, it can lead to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.

Burns

Summer is all about grilling burgers and hot dogs on the grill, roasting corn on the cob, sitting around a summer evening bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and shooting off fireworks. Unfortunately, these activities, while a lot of fun, can all lead to burns. When you add alcohol to the equation, injuries from burns are even more common. In addition to being incredibly painful, burns can easily become infected. Therefore, the fun should be paused long enough to visit an urgent care facility to get treatment for eventualities.

Food Poisoning

Summer picnics are a great way for friends and family to get together and enjoy a meal outdoors. It's also a good way to get food poisoning, if food safety practices aren't followed. Foods that sit out for too long during warm weather, especially those that are mayonnaise-based, can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Sudden, severe gastrointestinal distress with vomiting and diarrhea are the usual, initial symptoms, and dehydration can result.

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