Back                                               Heat Related Health Problems:

Information taken from the University of Maryland Medical Center:

Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be life-threatening if left untreated and are very common in the tropics: Know the Dangers and the Symptoms. Take all necessary precautions to prevent them from occurring and treat them immediately if symptoms are observed your life could depend on fast action.

Dehydration:

Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease, as well as being a dangerous side-effect of diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Children and persons over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

Take care dehydration can lead to Heat Exhaustion and Stroke.

Symptoms:

The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Thirst, less-frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth and mucous membranes, increased heart rate and breathing

In children, additional symptoms may include:

Dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for more than 3 hours, sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks, high fever, listlessness, irritability, skin that does not flatten when pinched and released

Treatment for dehydration:

Most people think that all you have to do to re-hydrate is drink water: Mistake, you loose more then just water when you dehydrate you also loose salt & electrolytes. As a young man I worked for a construction company. During one very hot spell we were pouring concrete while putting in an underground pool for Hamilton Twp. N. J. and we use to cut limes into quarters and throw them into our drinking water. Today there are many sports drinks that restore all necessary fluids.  Al

If caught early, dehydration can often be treated at home under a physician's guidance. In children, directions for giving food and fluids will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to consult your pediatrician.

In cases of mild dehydration, simple re-hydration is recommended by drinking fluids. Many sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids, electrolytes, and salt balance.

For moderate dehydration, intravenous fluids may be required, although if caught early enough, simple re-hydration may be effective. Cases of serious dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, and hospitalization, along with intravenous fluids, is necessary. Immediate action should be taken.

Heat Exhaustion:

Sweat acts like our natural air conditioner. As sweat evaporates from our skin, it cools us off. Our personal cooling system can fail, though, if we overexert ourselves on hot and humid days. When this happens, our body heat can climb to dangerous levels. This can results in heat exhaustion or a heat stroke which is life-threatening.

Heat exhaustion takes time to develop. Fluids and salt are vital for health. They are lost as children and adults sweat a lot during exercise or other strenuous activities. It is very important to drink lots of liquids before, during and after exercise in hot weather. As strange as it seems, people suffering from heat exhaustion have low, normal or only slightly elevated body temperatures.

Symptoms::

Cool, clammy, pale skin, Sweating, Dry mouth, Fatigue, weakness, Dizziness, Headache, Nausea, sometimes vomiting, Muscle cramps, Weak and rapid pulse.

First Aid for Heat Exhaustion:

Move to a cool place indoors or in the shade, Loosen clothing, Take fluids such as cool or cold water, If available, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a quart of water and sip it or drink sport drinks such as Gatorade, All Sport or PowerAde. Have salty foods such as saltine crackers, if tolerated. Lie down in a cool, breezy place.

Heat Stroke:

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to the sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower body temperature. The elderly, infants, persons who work outdoors and those on certain types of medications are most susceptible to heat stroke. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.

What causes heat stroke?

Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.

If a person becomes dehydrated and can not sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke.

Symptoms:

The following are the most common symptoms of heat stroke, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Headache; dizziness, disorientation, agitation or confusion, sluggishness or fatigue, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, a high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, hallucinations.

How is heat stroke treated?

It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for help to arrive.

Get the person indoors: Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating, Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits, Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated.

Intravenous fluids are often necessary to compensate for fluid or electrolyte loss. Bed rest is generally advised and body temperature may fluctuate abnormally for weeks after heat stroke

All heat related health problems can be prevented. Take care when in hot and humid areas. Use common sense and stay cool, drink plenty of liquids and don't over exercise.

Nothing! No win, no accomplishment is worth your health.    Al