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SUNDAY, July 6, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Feeling the "burn" is a part of exercise many people enjoy. Just make sure you don't burn yourself up when you exercise in the summer heat.
If you're not careful, the combination of heat and exercise could turn your workout into a serious medical problem.
When you exert yourself, muscle activity leads to an increase in body temperature. Your body maintains its internal temperature by sweating. But your body's natural ability to cool itself can be overwhelmed by the combination of intense exercise and hot weather.
That can lead to dehydration, which can cause muscle cramps, fatigue, headache, lightheadedness, confusion and lethargy. Ignoring those warning signs can lead to heat exhaustion, putting you at risk for coma, cardiac arrhythmia, even death.
The University of Massachusetts offers the following tips on how to stay safe when you exercise in the summer heat:
More information
The University of Michigan has much more on how to protect yourself against heat stroke.