Everyone's Health

'Boil Over' or just HOT

In hot weather, the body can overheat, a condition called hyperthermia. Hyperthermia sets the stage for heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. We'll focus on those “big three” heat-related problems.

The evaporation of sweat helps cool the body. Drinking fluids to replace water lost through sweating helps the body keep the cooling cycle humming. During prolonged, hot-weather exertion, a commercial sports beverage such as Gatorade is appropriate, as it provides water and sodium (an important blood electrolyte), both lost through sweating.

Take precautions to help ward off the following heat-related conditions, listed in order of increasing severity:

HEAT CRAMPS

When this muscle spasm grabs you, you're apt to yelp expletives. It may crop up suddenly during or after intense exertion or exercise, often in the legs. It's temporarily disabling, causing affected muscles to painfully ball up. The usual culprit is excessive sweating that has pulled too much sodium out of the body. To replenish lost sodium, drink a sports beverage such as Gatorade or water containing some added table salt (sodium chloride). Doing this during long periods of exertion also helps prevent heat cramps.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat exhaustion is often called heat prostration or heat collapse. The skin usually is cool and sweaty, and pupils are dilated (widened). Body temperature may be normal and blood pressure low. Other symptoms include weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache and faintness. Move the person to a cool place and put in a head-low position. If able, the individual should drink a sodium-containing beverage as mentioned above. Untended heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to heat stroke.

HEAT STROKE

Heat stroke, also known as sun stroke, is a life-threatening emergency. The core body temperature soars, and sweating is absent, leaving the skin hot, dry, and red. Other symptoms include headache, numbness, tingling, confusion, fast pulse, rapid breathing and possible delirium or loss of consciousness. Quick cooling is required. After calling 911, spray or sponge the person's body with cool water and fan it to enhance cooling. If available, apply ice packs to the neck, armpits and groin.

Of utmost importance: Please do not leave kids (or pets) in a parked car, even “for just a few minutes.” The summer heat is a smothering bear hug that can quickly turn the inside of a car into a coffin.

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