Do It Right
“Exercising in the heat can be as dangerous as wrestling a famished lion!” ~Unknown
As we move into the heart of summer, I just wanted to take a moment to point out the importance of taking care of yourself in the heat (sometimes oppressive) of summer. There are all manner of summertime activities that take us out doors and into the heat of the day and there are a few simple things to be aware of as you venture out be it to do yardwork or to take that daily run. In the heat of summer, heat related illness like heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all too common among those who exercise or work outside for any period of time. It is important to know the symptoms and signs of this summertime risk and what steps can be taken to avoid it.
Symptoms of heat related illness can be but are not limited to an abnormally elevated body temperature (104 degrees or higher), dizziness or light headedness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, seizure, rapid pulse and the absence of sweating. If you are feeling any of these symptoms you should stop the activity you are engaged in and take the following steps. Drink fluids and plenty of them…as you ingest liquids make sure they are not soda or alcohol, now is not the time for that icy cold beer, but cool water (not ice water) or better yet a sports drink that has plenty of electrolytes and sodium. As our body gets overheated, we sweat to try and stay cool, what we sweat out of our body depletes our body of not only water but these same electrolytes and salt. If you are wearing tight or restrictive clothing, loosen it or take it off to allow air to get to your skin to help with the evaporation of sweat (a cooling action). And, if possible, a cool shower or better yet, a cool bath to help bring the body temperature back down. Sit down with a cool damp cloth and place it or an ice pack on the back of the neck and sit in front of a fan. These measure should help the body cool down but if for some reason your temperature stays elevated, seek medical attention right away as you may have a heat stroke.
Some ways to do the things you need to do on days when the temperature is going to be high is to try and do them in the early morning or in the evening, not in the heat of the middle of the day. Some things to remember are that it is not just the temperature on the thermometer that is the telling tale of heat, it is also the relative humidity combined with the temperature that can make the outside feel so hot and uncomfortable. The most important thing to remember is that when you are expecting to be out in hot weather is to hydrate, drink plenty of water, not just when you’re outside in the heat, but drink plenty of water before you go out and then continue to hydrate while you’re outside. If you’re already dehydrated when you go out, you’re starting out way behind the eight ball and it is an uphill battle to fight off heat related illnesses. Other tips to help fight off heat related illness are to wear light colored clothing that is loose fitting if possible, wear sunscreen, try and work/exercise in shady areas, and listen to your body. If you’re feeling lightheaded then stop what you’re doing and rest. Hot weather flare ups are only becoming more and more common so be aware of what the weather is going to be before you head out. Be smart and use your head to make safe, common sense choices and you should be able to enjoy the hot summer days without incident.
I hope everyone has a good weekend and I hope allergies don’t go too crazy as I see the corn is starting to tassel out, who would have thought that a week after the 4th of July I would be talking about corn tasseling out! Don’t forget to share this post for a chance to win a $10 Kroger gift card. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com