Simon (Bath, England) on 02/20/2012

I have struggled with the mid-August heat for the past 3 years. In 2009 it was at its height when I was working in the garden in the morning trimming a tree, not wearing a hat because I thought that the morning heat couldn't possibly be dangerous (Norfolk, UK is not generally known for scorching temperatures, but is well known for being the driest region of Britain). I felt very physically and mentally tired after working for only about an hour. I went inside and had plenty to drink, but within another hour or so I was sitting in the living room with a blanket around me and with a headache. The headache became worse, and the feverish conditions I was experiencing became more emphasised. I struggled on for the next week or so, with conditions escalating more into me having an abscessed tooth and thus only being able to eat liquids. I was bed-ridden for about a week, and did not regain full health for about 2 weeks.
The same thing happened the following summer, at around the same time in August. This time, though, I was prepared for it. I stopped what I was doing at the time when I felt the symptoms coming on, and wrapped up straight away. I made myself plenty of hot drinks, and felt the need to eat lots of high-carb foods (potatoes were amazing). The symptoms did not escalate this time, and I felt myself become better within a few hours.
Last summer (2011) I had it come on again a little, and just made sure that I kept myself warm and full of food. Again, the symptoms disappeared fairly quickly.
It is important to note also that for the past two years in the summer I have been wearing a hat pretty much every day. I also wear sun glasses to protect my eyes against the glare. I don't like wearing sun tan lotion, so I just make sure I cover my neck because that's the only area that normally burns when I'm dressed.
Christine (Virginia Beach, USA) on 04/15/2008

When the body is under stress, the need for Vitamin C goes up. Unlike other creatures, we can't make our own Vitamin C and do not have an appetite for it.
A study done years ago demonstrated that using Vitamin C will prevent heat exhaustion. Best bet: use sodicum ascorbate because it is buffered and won't hurt your stomach.
See: http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/194x/index.htm#Weaver-1948
Elisa (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) on 08/08/2007

A week ago, I was working outside, got too hot, had all the signs of a heat stroke and apparently some sort of poisoning - food or other - inhalation or absorbtion - and have been violently ill ever since. For a week, I have not even kept water down - going at both ends several times a day - lost more than 7 lbs in a week. About 2 days ago I found this website and had my husband buy some Apple Cider Vinegar - it sat on the counter for a day until I could get up enough courage to even sip it - since every thing I swallow comes back up violently. Plus I didn't know if I could take it when I had eaten something or when to take it - then I read several more of these stories and decided I could at least get 2 tablespoons down. And I did - and don't do as I did and put it off. It is no big deal - one tablespoon at a time is squat. I began to feel better about 30-45 minutes later. Now it's been a couple of hours and I feel better than I have in a week - I couldn't even hardly hold my head up - I literally slept 20 hours out of every day - Whatever you do, don't wait, get the Apple Cider Vinegar down - I was shocked - but it stayed down for me. I'm getting ready to eat - and really really looking forward to it!