Heat-related illnesses are some of the
most common ailments in the summer and sometimes into the fall. But experts with UPMC's Urgent Care say there are some things you can do when the weather is sweltering to stay cool.
To
prevent heat-related illnesses, doctors at UPMC Urgent Care recommend limiting
strenuous activity between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. - the hottest portion of the day - drinking
plenty of fluids containing water or electrolyte solutions before, during and
after exercise, and avoiding soda or energy drinks, which can actually cause
dehydration.
In addition, wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing,
and taking frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas, will help cool
the body.
“If a person suffers a milder form of a heat-related
illness, with symptoms such as headaches, weakness, dizziness or an inability
to continue current activity, he or she may just need to rehydrate and take a
break,” says Heather Rosen, M.D., medical director at UPMC Urgent Care at North
Huntingdon.
Those affected should move to a cool area, preferably one
that is air conditioned, remove excess clothing, and hydrate with water or
electrolyte solutions.
Dr. Rosen says it is still important to know the warning
signs of more serious heat-related conditions. “People should be aware that, if
left untreated, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious problems, and
knowing the difference between the two is important for proper treatment and
recovery.”
Heat exhaustion
occurs when your body temperature rises between 98.6 degrees F and 104 degrees F. Symptoms may include a racing heart, sweating,
nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, fainting with quick
return to normal mental status, severe thirst or mild confusion. Treatment for heat exhaustion may include
moving to a cooler, shaded environment, or preferably into air
conditioning. Excess clothing should be removed, and the patient should be
given chilled salt containing fluids like Gatorade.
“Patients who do not respond to these
measures or who are initially suffering from dehydration or altered mental
status should be treated at a hospital emergency department for possible heat
stroke, a life-threatening condition that involves a higher core body
temperature in excess of 104. degrees F,” says Dr. Rosen.
Heat stroke symptoms also include shallow,
rapid breathing, flushing, excessive bleeding from mouth or nose,
disorientation, convulsions or seizures, crackles in the lungs, acute kidney or
liver injury and tissue damage.
A
person with concerns about heat-related illness can visit a UPMC
Urgent Care location for
further examination any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., without an
appointment.