While Mother Nature is forecast to turn down the thermostat a bit this week.

This year could be record shattering when it comes to the heat, making it all the more important to be aware of heat related illness.

A doctor from Norton Health Care shares a few of the symptoms and how to avoid falling victim to the heat.

All of that and today's health news.

So there's really three stages of heat illnesses or heat related illnesses.

Right.

So the first one, the one that we've all seen, whether you're watching sports on TV or you've had a while or you had the cramps while playing your sport, the first ones typically heat cramps, you know, those muscles just cramp up on you.

Now, the other two that are a little more severe, you know, is going to be your heat exhaustion.

And then you've got your heat stroke, which the heat strokes, the big, scary one that we want to stay away from.

By all means, those you're going to see progression of symptoms in, they'll they'll be throwing up.

They'll have the heat cramps.

They'll start just kind of acting a little off and being a little disoriented.

You also look at like they're are they sweating or not?

If they're not sweating, then we're going to get really worried, you know, if their skin is dry and hot, then we're going to be a little bit more concerned about the heat related illness.

The number one thing is hydration.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

So we tell our athletes whether you're playing at the collegiate level, professional level, high school, middle school, you're right.

When it gets hot, you know, you sweat profusely.

You've got to have that that storage of fluids there.

You've got to hydrate.

You've got to make sure you stay on top of your hydration.

I know everybody's favorite sports drink is going to be Gatorade or Powerade or Bodyarmor.

Most people aren't going to be sweating profusely enough to warrant a bunch of those.

You know, they're also high in sugar.

And so water is going to be a great thing to take.

It really comes down to person to person, you know, athlete to athlete situation.

You know, we've had athletes that we are pre hydrating or crazy amounts of fluid and they still cramp up, you know, So I don't think there's a set number.

Again, it goes back to how your body is processing it, you know.

The other big thing is actually going to be, you know, again, acclimated to the heat.

So, you know, in in college football, you know, we do a two week acclimatization period where you're going out and you're not running as hard.

You're not running as fast, you're not hitting as hard, you're not staying out as long, but you're getting used to the heat and the intensity of the game.

Other ways to avoid heat related illness limit outdoor activities to early morning or late in the evening and wear light colored clothes made of fabrics that can wick away moisture.