Heat-related illness and deaths are preventable if you take the appropriate steps. The elderly, the very young, and those with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.TOP TEN TIPS FOR STAYING COOL:
- Drink plenty of non-carbonated liquids like water or electrolyte-enriched liquids to replace your fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Avoid liquids that have alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar because they will speed up fluid loss.
- Stay in air-conditioned areas such as malls, libraries, movie theaters and community centers. Even a few hours can cool your body’s temperature.
- If you feel very hot, cool off by taking a cool bath or shower. Opening a window or using a fan may not prevent heat-related illnesses.
- Do not cool children in alcohol baths. Cool, plain water baths or moist towels work best.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, such as cotton, so sweat can evaporate.
- NEVER leave anyone or pets in closed, parked cars during hot weather.
- Do not bundle babies in blankets or heavy clothing. Infants do not tolerate heat well because their sweat glands are not fully developed.
- Limit physical activity to morning and evening hours. Avoid physical activity or exercise between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. typically the hottest part of the day. Rest often in shady areas.
- Wear a wide-brimmed, vented hat or use an umbrella because your head absorbs heat easily.
Hyperthermia, heat stroke, dehydration, heat rash
The body can adapt very well in hot weather, but it takes time to acclimate. The actual temperature is just one factor when a person decides to work, play, or exercise in the heat. The heat index adds humidity to the equation since sweat cannot evaporate if the water content in the air (humidity) is high. If the air holds as much water as it can there is no place for sweat to go, and evaporation cannot cool the body.
Hyperthermia is overheating of the body. Hyperthermia is literally high heat. Summer can bring heat waves with unusually high temperatures that last for days and sometimes weeks. In the summer of 1980, a severe heat wave hit the United States, and nearly 1,700 people lost their lives from heat-related illness. Likewise, in the summer of 2003, tens of thousands of people died of the heat in Europe. High temperatures put people at risk.
What causes hyperthermia and heat-related illnesses?
People suffer heat-related illness when the body's temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures can damage the brain or other vital organs.
Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly.
Other conditions that can limit the ability to regulate temperature include old age, obesity, dehydration, fever, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, and drug, and alcohol use.
Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include: infants and children up to four years of age, people 65 years of age or older, people who are overweight, people who overexert during work or exercise, people who are ill or on certain medications.
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- Infants and children up to four years of age are very sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.
- People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently, and are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature.
- Overweight people may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat.
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Any health condition that causes dehydration makes the body more susceptible to heat-related illness. If you or someone you know is at higher risk, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, avoid overexertion, and get your doctor or pharmacist's advice about medications being taken for: high blood pressure, depression, nervousness, mental illness, insomnia, or poor circulation.
To avoid heat-related illnesses, avoid working or exercising in extreme heat. If it is required, to avoid dehydration and other complications, take frequent breaks to get out of the heat and drink plenty of fluids to replenish fluid lost via sweat.
Early signs of heat-related illnesses include lightheadedness, weakness, and nausea. It is important to get out of the heat, cool off, and rehydrate immediately to avoid heat-related problems such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat Stroke
Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems. Two common problems are heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat stroke occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10-15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
What are the symptoms of heat stroke?
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include: an extremely high body temperature (above 104°F), red, hot, and moist or dry skin (no sweating), rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, seizures, unconsciousness.
What is the treatment for heat stroke?
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim: get the victim to a cool indoor or outdoor area. Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, you may immerse the victim in a tub of cool water or place them in a cool shower. You may also spray them with cool water from a garden hose or sponge them with cool water. If the humidity is low, loosely wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F or lower. If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions. Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably (seizure) as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side to prevent choking.
Dehydration
It is hard to gauge how much water is lost through sweat, and the thirst mechanism may not be sensitive enough to remind a person to drink enough. In general, the kidneys are a good guide to whether there is enough water in the body. If the body is dehydrated, the kidneys will try to hold on to as much water as possible. Symptoms and signs of the kidneys preserving water are decreased urine production, urine concentrated in color, and a strong urine odor. Urine is clear when there is enough fluid in the body.
In a hot environment, a person should drink enough water to make the urine clear, and make sure the body is producing sweat.
What is heat rash?
The skin's job is to protect the inside of the body from the outside world, and acts as a preventive barrier against intruders (for example, infection, chemicals, or ultraviolet light). It also plays an important role in the body's temperature control. One way that the body cools itself is by sweating and allowing that sweat or perspiration to evaporate. Sweat is manufactured in sweat glands that line the entire body (except for a few small spots like fingers, toenails, and the ear canal).
Sweat glands are located in the dermis or deep layer of the skin and are regulated by the temperature control centers in the brain. Sweat from the gland gets to the surface of the skin by a duct.
A heat rash occurs when sweat ducts become clogged and the sweat can't get to the surface of the skin. Instead, it becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface causing mild inflammation or rash. Heat rash is also called prickly heat or Miliaria.It is uncertain why some people get heat rashes and others don't.
The sweat gland ducts can get blocked if excessive sweating occurs, and that sweat is not allowed to evaporate from a specific area. Some examples of how blockage may occur include the following:
- Creases in the skin like the neck, armpit, or groin have skin touching adjacent skin, which makes it difficult for air to circulate preventing sweat evaporation.
- Tight clothing that prevents sweat evaporation.
- Bundling up in heavy clothing or sheets. This may occur when a person tries to keep warm in wintertime or when chilled because of an illness and fever.
- Heavy creams or lotions can clog sweat ducts.
Babies have immature sweat glands that aren't able to get rid of all the sweat they produce, which can cause a heat rash if they are exposed to warm weather, are overdressed, excessively bundled, or have a fever.
Heat rash may occur as a side effect of some medications (for example, isotretinoin [Accutane] or clonidine [Catapress].
What does heat rash look like?
The appearance of the heat rash depends upon where the excess sweat gets deposited in the skin. Tiny blisters that look like small beads of sweat are seen if the sweat is blocked at the most superficial layers of the skin where the sweat duct opens on the skin surface. Called miliaria crystalline, it has no symptoms other the "sweat bubbles."
If the sweat causes inflammation in the deeper layers of the epidermis, the classic heat rash occurs, which is referred to as miliaria rubra. Like any other inflammation, the area becomes red (and therefore the name rubra) and the blisters become slightly larger.
Because the sweat glands are blocked and don't deliver sweat to the skin's surface, the area involved is dry and can be irritated, itchy, and sore. This rash is also called prickly heat.
Less commonly, after repeated episodes of prickly heat, the heat rash may inflame the deeper later of the skin called the dermis, and cause miliaria profunda. This rash is made up of larger, harder bumps that are more skin colored. The rash begins almost immediately after exercise, and again no sweat can be found on the affected areas. This type of heat rash may potentially dangerous if enough skin is involved, since the lack of sweating can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
What are the symptoms of heat rash in children and adults?
The common symptoms of heat rash are red bumps on the skin, and an itchy or prickly feeling to the skin. These are due to inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin and the prickly sensation is similar to the feeling of mild sunburn.
The symptoms of heat rash are the same in infants and adults; however, since an infant can't complain about the rash sensation, he or she may be fussy.
How can heat rash be prevented?
Prevention is the most important treatment for heat rash. By allowing the skin to be exposed to circulating air, the potential for sweat glands to become inflamed decreases.
Other strategies to prevent heat rash include:
- avoid exercising in hot, humid weather,
- wear loose clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton,
- use air conditioning, and
- keep the skin clean with frequent baths or showers to prevent sweat glands from becoming clogged.
Keeping the skin cool on hot days is an important preventive measure. Air circulation (with fans or by other methods) usually will help with skin cooling. It is important not to bundle newborns and infants too tightly so that air can get to the skin, but it also is important to keep them warm enough.
Always consult professional medical advice for health emergencies.
This and more information can be found at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site at http://www.bt.cdc.gov
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