If you’ve stepped outside in Bedford this summer, you already know: this isn’t ordinary Texas heat. With excessive heat warnings hitting the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and feels-like temperatures climbing past 110°F, knowing the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke isn’t just useful information , it could save your life or the life of someone you love. Every summer, emergency rooms across North Texas see a spike in heat-related illness, and many cases could have been caught earlier if people knew what to watch for.

At Preferred Primary Care, a community-focused clinic serving Bedford, Dallas, and Fort Worth, we treat heat-related illness every summer, and we’d rather see you a day early with mild symptoms than in crisis. This guide breaks down exactly how heat exhaustion and heat stroke differ, what to do in the moment, and when it’s time to get medical help.

Why DFW Summers Are Especially Dangerous

North Texas isn’t just hot , it’s humid-hot, and that combination is exactly what makes heat illness so common here. Dallas-Fort Worth has already seen multiple excessive heat warnings this season, with feels-like temperatures reaching into the 110–115°F range on the worst days. State climate researchers at Texas A&M project that the number of 100-degree days across Texas will roughly quadruple compared to the 1970s and 1980s, meaning this kind of extreme heat isn’t a rare event anymore , it’s becoming the new normal for a North Texas summer.

Heat-related illness isn’t rare, either. According to the CDC, extreme heat contributes to roughly 1,220 deaths in the United States every year, more than any other weather-related cause, including hurricanes and tornadoes. The people at highest risk include older adults, young children, outdoor workers, athletes, and anyone with high blood pressure or a chronic health condition , all reasons this is a topic worth discussing at your next wellness exam.

Heat Exhaustion: The Warning Stage

Heat exhaustion is your body’s way of telling you it’s losing the fight to cool itself down. It typically develops after hours of heat exposure and inadequate fluid intake, and while it’s less dangerous than heat stroke, it should never be ignored , left untreated, it can progress into a medical emergency.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion

According to the CDC, common warning signs of heat exhaustion include:

• Heavy sweating
• Cool, pale, or clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness or headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

If you or someone you’re with is showing these symptoms, the first step is to get out of the heat immediately , move to an air-conditioned space or shaded area, loosen tight clothing, sip water slowly, and apply cool, wet cloths to the skin. Most people improve within an hour with rest and hydration. If symptoms don’t improve, worsen, or the person starts vomiting repeatedly, it’s time to schedule a healthcare consultation or see a primary care provider the same day.

For moderate cases where oral fluids aren’t cutting it fast enough, a clinician may recommend IV hydration to replace fluids and electrolytes more quickly than drinking alone can achieve.

Heat Stroke: The Medical Emergency

Heat stroke is what happens when heat exhaustion goes untreated, or when the body’s cooling system fails outright. Unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke is always a medical emergency. The body’s core temperature can spike to 106°F or higher within just 10 to 15 minutes, and at that point, it can begin to damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and other vital organs.

Signs of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke symptoms are more severe and often develop quickly. Watch for:

• A body temperature of 103°F or higher
• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin (sweating may stop entirely)
• A fast, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Confusion, agitation, or slurred speech
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea
• Loss of consciousness or seizures

The clearest distinguishing factor between the two conditions is neurological. Heat exhaustion causes fatigue and lightheadedness, but heat stroke causes actual brain dysfunction , confusion, disorientation, and behavior changes that aren’t normal for the person. If someone’s skin has gone from pale and clammy to hot and dry, or if they seem “not themselves” mentally, treat it as heat stroke until proven otherwise.

What to Do If You Suspect Heat Stroke

Call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is not something to wait out or treat at home. While waiting for emergency responders:

1. Move the person to a cooler, shaded, or air-conditioned area
2. Remove excess clothing
3. Cool the body quickly using cold water, ice packs (placed on the neck, armpits, and groin), or a cool bath if available
4. Do not give the person fluids to drink if they are confused, vomiting, or losing consciousness
5. Monitor their condition closely until help arrives

Every minute matters here. The CDC is direct about this: heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is delayed.

Who’s Most at Risk in Bedford and the DFW Metroplex

Some groups face significantly higher risk during North Texas summers:

• Older adults, whose bodies regulate temperature less efficiently
• Young children, who overheat faster than adults
• Outdoor workers, including landscapers, construction crews, and delivery drivers
• Athletes and student-athletes, especially during August practices ahead of the school year
• People with high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes, whose conditions and medications can affect the body’s ability to cool itself
• Anyone taking diuretics, certain blood pressure medications, or antihistamines, which can interfere with sweating or hydration
• People with anemia, since low iron levels can worsen fatigue and reduce the body’s tolerance for heat; patients with ongoing symptoms may benefit from iron infusion therapy to help restore healthy iron levels

If you fall into one of these categories, it’s worth a conversation with your primary care provider about how your specific health conditions or medications affect your heat tolerance this summer. This is also a good time to review your hydration status through a healthcare consultation, especially if you’ve felt unusually fatigued or lightheaded on hot days.

How Primary Care Can Help You Stay Ahead of Heat Illness

Beyond emergency situations, your primary care team plays an important role in prevention. If you’re prone to dehydration, work outdoors, or manage a chronic condition that makes heat riskier, your doctor can help you build a heat-safety plan tailored to your health history. For patients who become significantly dehydrated, dehydration treatment with IV fluids can offer fast, medically supervised rehydration when oral fluids alone aren’t cutting it. Routine laboratory testing can also check kidney function and electrolyte levels if you’ve had a recent heat-related scare, giving your doctor a clearer picture of how your body is handling the summer heat.

Stay Safe This Summer, Your Primary Care Team Is Here to Help

Texas summers aren’t slowing down, and neither should your awareness of heat-related illness. If you’ve experienced symptoms of heat exhaustion recently, or want a heat-safety plan tailored to your health conditions, schedule an appointment with our team. Learn more about our physicians and how Preferred Primary Care supports patients across Bedford and the greater DFW Metroplex all summer long.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 immediately.