Hyperthermia (cont.)
Hot weather tips
To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember to keep
cool and use common sense. The following tips are important.
Drink plenty of fluids
Increase your fluid intake regardless of your activity level. During heavy
exercise in a hot environment, drink 2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids
each hour.
Caution: If your doctor has prescribed a fluid-restricted diet or diuretics
for you, ask your doctor how much you should drink.
- During hot weather, you will need to drink more liquid than your thirst
indicates. This is especially true for people 65 years of age and older who
often have a decreased ability to respond to external temperature changes.
- Drinking plenty of liquids during exercise is especially important. However,
avoid very cold beverages because they can cause stomach cramps.
- In addition,
avoid drinks containing alcohol because they will actually cause you to lose
more fluid.
Replace salt and minerals
Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary
for your body and must be replaced. The easiest and safest way to replace salt
and minerals is through your diet.
- Drink fruit juice or a sports beverage during
exercise or any work in the heat.
- Do not take salt tablets unless directed by
your doctor.
- If you are on a low-salt diet, ask your doctor before changing what
you eat or drink, especially before drinking a sports beverage.
Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen
- Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight,
light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a wide-brimmed hat will
provide shade and keep the head cool.
- Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body
fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin.
- A variety of sunscreens are available to reduce the risk of sunburn. The
protection that they offer against sunburn varies. Check the sun protection
factor (SPF) number on the label of the sunscreen container. Select SPF 15 or
higher to protect yourself adequately. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going
outdoors and reapply according to package directions.
Pace yourself
- If you are unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start
slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
- If exertion in the heat makes your heart
pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity, get into a cool
area, or at least in the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded,
confused, weak, or faint.
Stay cool indoors
- The most efficient way to beat the heat is to stay in an air-conditioned
area.
- If you do not have an air conditioner or evaporative cooling unit,
consider a visit to a shopping mall or public library for a few hours.
- Contact
your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in
your area.
- Electric fans may be useful to increase comfort and to draw cool air
into your home at night, but do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device
during a heat wave. When the temperature is in the 90s or higher, a fan will not
prevent heat-related illness.
- A cool shower or bath is a more effective way to
cool off. Also, use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in
your home.
Schedule outdoor activities carefully
- If you must be out in the heat, try to plan your activities so that you are
outdoors either before noon or in the evening.
- While outdoors, rest frequently
in a shady area.
- Resting periodically will give your body's thermostat a chance
to recover.
Use a buddy system
- When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your coworkers and have
someone do the same for you. Heat-related illness can cause a person to become
confused or lose consciousness.
- During a heat wave, have a friend or relative
call to check in on you twice a day if you are 65 years of age or older. If you
know anyone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
Adjust to the environment
- Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat
wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for the
heat if you limit your physical activity until you become accustomed to the
heat.
- If traveling to a hotter climate, allow several days to become acclimated
before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually.
Use common sense
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals as they may add heat to your body.
- Do not
leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car.
- Dress infants and young
children in cool, loose clothing and shade their heads and faces with hats or an
umbrella.
- Limit sun exposure during the mid-day hours and in places of potential
severe exposure such as beaches.
- Ensure that infants and children drink adequate
amounts of liquids.
- Give your pet plenty of fresh water, and leave the water in
a shady area.
One last hot tip
These self-help measures are not a substitute for medical care but may help
you recognize and respond promptly to warning signs of trouble. Your best
defense against heat-related illness is prevention. Staying cool and making
simple changes in your fluid intake, activities, and clothing during hot weather
can help you remain safe and healthy.
Next: Hyperthermia At A Glance »
- Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.
- Dehydration - Read about dehydration (definition: excessive water loss) in children, treatment, symptoms (thirst, dry mouth, dark urine) and causes (vomiting, diarrhea).
- Muscle Spasms - Read about muscle spasms, their causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Symptoms and signs include acute pain at the site of the muscle contractions (twitches or fasciculations).
Latest Medical News
|
|
 |
From WebMD
First Aid Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
|
Interactive Slideshows
Health News Feed