Your Body Almanac

Arizona

Extreme desert heat, intense sun and a lung infection that lives in the dust.

Arizona's heat is dangerous, not just uncomfortable, and its sun is among the strongest in the country. The desert soil also carries the fungus that causes valley fever, and Arizona's case rate has been climbing.

01

Extreme heat

Summer highs in the low deserts can top 110 degrees, and nights may not cool enough for your body to recover. Heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke within hours. Older adults, outdoor workers, people without air conditioning and anyone on certain medicines are at highest risk.

SourcesHeat Safety (National Weather Service)About Heat and Your Health (CDC)
Stay safe in the heatAs neededOn hot days, drink water often, take breaks in the shade and plan hard work for the cooler parts of the day. Drink water through the dayDailyKeep a water bottle within reach and sip through the day instead of waiting until you are thirsty. Rehydrate when you sweatAs neededDrink regularly during hot work or long workouts, and add electrolytes when you sweat for more than two hours.
02

Valley fever from desert dust

Valley fever is a lung infection from a fungus that lives in soil in the southwestern US. You breathe in spores when dirt is stirred up by wind, digging or construction. Many people never feel sick, but some get weeks of cough, fatigue and fever, and a few get serious illness. Arizona's reported rate rose from 84.4 per 100,000 people in 2014 to 146.0 in 2023.

SourcesAbout Valley Fever (CDC)Valley Fever 2023 Annual Report (Arizona Department of Health Services)
Check the air qualityAs neededLook up your local Air Quality Index before outdoor work or exercise, and scale back when it is high. Wear a respirator for dust, fumes and smokeAs neededUse a properly fitted N95 or better respirator for dusty work and heavy wildfire smoke, and a cartridge respirator for gases and vapors.
03

Intense sun

Clear desert skies, a high sun and, in much of the state, high elevation all raise UV exposure. The UV Index in Arizona regularly reaches the very high and extreme range. Sunburn comes fast and skin damage adds up over the years.

SourcesUV Index — What Is It? (NOAA Climate Prediction Center)Sun Safety Monthly Average UV Index (US EPA)
Wear sunscreen every dayDailyPut broad-spectrum SPF 30+ on exposed skin each morning and reapply every two hours outdoors. Wear sun-protective clothingAs neededCover up with a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and tightly woven long sleeves when you are out in the sun. Check your skin for changesAs neededLook over your whole body on a regular schedule for new spots or moles that change, itch or bleed.

When to see a professional

Heat stroke is an emergency: confusion, fainting, or hot skin, whether dry or still sweating, means call 911. Ask a doctor about valley fever testing if you have a cough, fatigue, fever or rash that lasts more than a week or two.