☀️🥵 Be careful of the heat 🥵☀️
Are you taking care of yourself in the Summer heat?
The time range for what we think of as “summer weather” is changing 🥵☀️🥵
After last week’s incredible heat wave, I did some research on our hot weather. Believe it or not, a 2021 study found that summers had grown from 78 to 95 days. When averaged across 50 large U.S. cities, the heat wave season has grown from about 24 days in the 1960’s to 73 days today — 49 days longer than it used to be.
The warming of Earth’s climate is causing more frequent and intense summer heat waves. Why does this matter?
Heat waves pose an increasingly severe public health threat. The summer of 2023 was the hottest in 2,000 years, and some 2,300 people in the U.S. died from excessive heat during that season, the highest number in 45 years of recorded data. Some experts think total heat-related deaths are far higher.
Extreme heat is more deadly than all other weather-related disasters combined.
Today, I will share how to recognize and help those suffering with heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Before I share these quick precautions, if you missed last week’s blog on“My “up-to-date” mosquito research and BEST solutions 🦟”, you can use this link, Here.
🥵☀️🥵 OK, let’s learn how to quickly recognize heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke; and what to do about it 😱☀️🥵
Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature — or overheating. It's the opposite of hypothermia, when your body is too cold. Hyperthermia occurs when your body absorbs or generates more heat than it can release. A human’s normal body temperature is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
In hot weather, your body cools itself mainly by sweating. The evaporation of your sweat regulates your body temperature. But when you exercise strenuously or otherwise overexert in hot, humid weather, your body is less able to cool itself efficiently.
As a result, heat cramps may start in your body. Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat-related illness. Symptoms of heat cramps often include heavy sweating, fatigue, thirst and muscle cramps. Prompt treatment may prevent heat cramps from progressing to more-serious heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion.
Drinking fluids or slightly salty beverages can replace lost electrolytes. You can have sports drinks or water with a few teaspoons of salt mixed in to help treat heat cramps. Other treatments for heat cramps include getting into cooler temperatures, such as an air-conditioned or shaded place, and resting.
Besides hot weather and strenuous activity, other causes of heat exhaustion include:
Dehydration, which lessens your body's ability to sweat and keep a normal temperature.
Alcohol use, which can affect your body's ability to regulate your temperature.
Overdressing, particularly in clothes that don't allow sweat to evaporate easily.
Types of Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia describes a group of heat illnesses that include (from least to most severe):
Heat cramps: Muscle cramps can occur if you lose a lot of electrolytes (salts and other important substances in your body fluids) through sweating. Heat cramps often occur in your arms, hands, lower legs and feet.
Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion is more serious than heat cramps. Your body temperature may be as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke.
Heat rash: If you sweat a lot in hot, humid weather, you might develop a skin irritation called heat rash. It looks like a cluster of small, red pimples or blisters. Heat rash usually develops in your elbow crease, under your breasts, near your groin or on your upper chest and neck.
Heat stress: Occupational heat stress can occur if you have a job that requires you to work in hot conditions. Examples include firefighters, miners and construction workers. Heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
Heatstroke: The most severe form of hyperthermia is heatstroke. It’s a life-threatening condition that causes your body temperature to rise above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It causes problems in your brain and other organs. Heatstroke is especially dangerous if your body temperature rises above 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion may start suddenly or progress over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. Possible heat exhaustion symptoms include:
Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat.
Heavy sweating.
Faintness.
Dizziness.
Fatigue.
Weak, rapid pulse.
Low blood pressure upon standing.
Muscle cramps.
Nausea.
Headache.
Anyone can get overheated, but certain factors increase your sensitivity to heat. They include:
Young age or old age. Infants and children younger than 4 and adults older than 65 are at higher risk of heat exhaustion. The body's ability to regulate its temperature isn't fully developed in children. In older adults, illness, medicines or other factors can affect the body's ability to control temperature.
Certain drugs. Some medicines can affect your body's ability to stay hydrated and respond properly to heat. These include some medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems (beta blockers, diuretics), reduce allergy symptoms (antihistamines), calm you (tranquilizers), or reduce psychiatric symptoms such as delusions (antipsychotics). Some illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can increase your core temperature.
Obesity. Carrying excess weight can affect your body's ability to regulate its temperature and cause your body to keep more heat.
Sudden temperature changes. If you're not used to the heat, you're more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion. The body needs time to get used to higher temperatures. Traveling to a warm climate from a cold one or living in an area that experiences an early heat wave can put you at risk of a heat-related illness. The body hasn't had a chance to get used to the higher temperatures.
A high heat index. The heat index is a single temperature value that considers how both the outdoor temperature and humidity make you feel. When the humidity is high, your sweat can't evaporate as easily, and your body has more trouble cooling itself. This makes you more prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. When the heat index is 91F or higher, you should take precautions to keep cool.
Anyone can get hyperthermia, but you’re at especially high risk if you:
Are dehydrated.
Are over 65 or under 4 years old.
Do strenuous physical activity in hot weather.
Excessively consume alcohol.
Have an electrolyte imbalance.
Have certain diseases that affect your ability to sweat, such as cystic fibrosis.
Have certain medical conditions, such as problems with your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, thyroid or blood vessels.
Are overweight or underweight.
Take certain medications, such as diuretics, stimulants, sedatives, tranquilizers or heart and blood pressure.
Wear heavy or tight clothing in hot weather.
How are heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash and heat stress treated?
If you experience mild-to-moderate heat illness symptoms, you should:
Stop physical activity and rest in a cool, well-ventilated environment.
Remove heavy or tight clothing.
Drink slightly salty beverages to replace lost electrolytes. You can have sports drinks or water with a few teaspoons of salt mixed in. Avoid caffeinated beverages.
Apply a cool compress to your skin.
Keep irritated skin dry. Apply a powder or ointment to reduce discomfort from a rash.
Gently stretch any muscles that are cramping.
You can usually treat these conditions at home.
How is Heatstroke treated?
Heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires treatment in a hospital. The most severe form of hyperthermia is heatstroke. It’s a life-threatening condition that causes your body temperature to rise above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It causes problems in your brain and other organs. Heatstroke is especially dangerous if your body temperature rises above 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you’re waiting for an ambulance to arrive, try to cool the person as much as possible:
Immerse them in cool water, if possible.
Mist them with water and blow air across their bodies (evaporative cooling).
Apply ice packs to the neck, groin and armpits.
Avoid giving any medications, including aspirin and acetaminophen.
At the hospital, you may receive cooled IV fluids. A healthcare provider may also recommend cold-water lavage. This is a procedure that washes out body cavities with cold water.
To learn more about how hospitals are prepared to treat heatstroke, you can read more on PubMed, Here.
How can I prevent Hyperthermia?
In most cases, it’s possible to prevent hyperthermia. You should:
Avoid strenuous physical activity in hot, humid conditions.
Consume sports drinks, lightly salted water or broth.
Never leave children (or pets) in closed, hot spaces such as cars.
Stay in air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas during heat waves.
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing if you’ll be out in the heat.
NOTE: If you must do activities in the heat due to your job or a sport, let your body gradually acclimate to the heat. Start doing light work or exercise about two weeks before you need to do the really hard work. Then, gradually build your body’s ability to withstand high temperatures. If possible, plan to do the work during the early morning hours when it might be cooler.
THE BOTTOM LINE
“Heatstroke is when the body’s core temperature gets over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the body no longer sweats, and starts cooling itself by shutting down, causing problems in your brain and other organs. The individual would need to be cooled down manually in this case. Call 911 immediately if you think someone is having heatstroke, and while waiting on the ambulance try and cool the person down by immersing them in cold water or ice!”
Heat exhaustion is a condition that happens when your body overheats. Symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse. Heat exhaustion is one of three heat-related illnesses, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most serious.
Causes of heat illness include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when there is also high humidity, and strenuous physical activity. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition that causes your body temperature to rise above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It causes problems in your brain and other organs. Heatstroke is especially dangerous if your body temperature rises above 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heatstroke needs immediate medical attention to prevent permanent damage to your brain and other vital organs that can result in death.
People should cool their body temperature right away. Call 911 immediately at the first signs of heatstroke.
As always, if you’d like to talk more about what we covered in my newsletter today, make an appointment with me using the link:HERE.
Or, you can give me a call at (973) 210-3838
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