Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Heat rash is a skin irritation that occurs in hot, humid weather. It is caused by profuse sweating, which can lead to the blockage of sweat ducts. It can occur at any age, but is most common in young children.
What are the signs and symptoms of heat rash?
Heat rash appears as a cluster of small red pimples or blisters. This skin irritation can be itchy. It typically occurs on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
What is the treatment for heat rash?
The best treatment for heat rash is to avoid a hot, humid environment and to try to remain in cooler, less humid conditions. Try to keep the affected area dry, and wear light, loose clothing. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort, but avoid using ointments or creams because they keep the skin warm and moist and may make the condition worse.
Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical
assistance.
Heat-Related Illness Prevention
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 or caffeine, 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 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 the 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 in the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded,
weak, or faint.
Stay cool indoors
The most efficient way to beat the heat is to stay in a cool or air-conditioned
area.
If you do not have an air conditioner or evaporative cooling unit,
consider a visit to a shopping mall, see a movie in a movie theater, or visit 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. Make sure they use sunscreen when outdoors.
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.
Make sure to keep your pet cool by giving them 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.
REFERENCES:
CDC.gov. Heat Stress.
CDC.gov. Problems with Heat and Cold.
eMedicineHealth.com. Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating. It can occur at any age and it appears as a rash that itches or feels prickly, and looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. Pictures of heat rash are included.
Rhabdomyolysis is a rapid deterioration and destruction of skeletal muscle. Some of the causes of rhabdomyolysis include severe burns, muscle trauma, coma, seizures, electrolyte imbalance, medications (statins), viruses, bacteria. Treatment of rhabdomyolysis depends on the cause.
Heat stroke (heatstroke or sun stroke) is a form of hyperthermia. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated. Symptoms of heat stroke include: high body temperature, absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma. A victim of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement fluids. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and fainting.
Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
Sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) is an inflammation of the skin induced by the combination of medications or substances and sunlight. The affect on the skin is redness, which looks similar to a sunburn. Generally, these reactions are either phototoxic or photoallergic. Phototoxic drugs are more common than photoallergic drugs. Symptoms of phototoxic reactions are a burning and stinging sensation and then redness. Symptoms of photoallergic reactions are itching, redness, swelling, blisters of the affected area. Treatment generally is discontinuation of the medication and topical application of creams.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity or work in a hot humid environment. Symptoms of heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs that occur in association with strenuous activity. Heat cramps is part of a group of heat-related illnesses.
First aid is a complicated subject and it is situation-specific. First aid is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured person, but to a person who is sick. Preparedness is a key element of first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of more critical first aid emergencies.
The cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is unknown. The risk of SIDS peaks in infants 2-4 months of age. SIDS is more common among male infants, particularly African American and Native American infants, during the winter months. Putting the baby to sleep on his/her back, avoiding fluffy, loose bedding, using a firm mattress, and avoiding co-sleeping may help to prevent SIDS.
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