Record Heat Requires Exercise Precautions

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THURSDAY, Aug. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Autumn may be waiting in the wings, but the continuing summer heat and humidity means that you need to be careful when exercising outdoors.

"It's great to get outside and exercise before the cold weather sets in, but this year's record heat makes it all the more important to take precautions so you don't make a healthy activity bad for your health," Kara Smith, a personal trainer and special projects coordinator at Loyola Center for Fitness, said in a Loyola University news release.

She offered some advice for staying safe while exercising outdoors in hot, humid conditions:

• Avoid exercising outside during the hottest times of the day, which are usually between 10 a.m. and 4 pm.
• Wear sweatproof and waterproof sunscreen.
• Drink water before, during and after you exercise. Weigh yourself before you go outdoors to exercise and again as soon as you return home. The weight you've lost is water weight so you need to drink that amount in ounces of water to replenish your body.
• If you exercise during the daytime, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.
• You should wear lightweight clothing that is light-colored and is made of materials that pull moisture away from your body.

-- Robert Preidt

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SOURCE: Loyola University Health System, Aug. 17, 2010, news release.