No matter where you live, or what your stage of life, you’re likely experiencing warmer temperatures, especially during the summer months. And while long-time agebuzz readers have already been educated about the risk of heatstroke, it’s important for us all to recognize when we, or loved ones, may be at risk because of rising heat and our inability to sufficiently cool off.

As a reminder, heatstroke is a potentially lethal affliction during which your body temperature can rise to over 104 degrees and which requires immediate intervention to ward off serious damage. But short of that, you can also experience other serious complications from rising temperatures, including heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. You might also experience heat edema (swelling in your ankles or feet) or heat cramps (muscle tightening in your stomach, arms and legs). For all of these potential complications from rising temperatures, it’s critical to make sure you stay on the lookout for warning signs (dizziness, confusion, cramping, weakness, swelling, etc.) and employ common sense approaches for keeping cool (lots of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic fluids, staying in air-conditioned spaces if possible, avoiding midday sun and wearing lightweight, cool fabrics). And are you on new medications? You need to check in with your physician or pharmacist to make sure those meds are not putting you at extra risk when it comes to heat.

Finally, for some additional ideas for relief, turn up the AC and read Daily Caring’s recent list of affordable products for keeping cool.