Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is defined as the depletion of body fluids caused by overexposure to heat from sunlight or other sources of heat. Dehydration causes dizziness, nausea, weakness, chills, light-headedness, headaches and unconsciousness. is usually not fatal, but the depletion of ion, mineral and water in the body can cause painful spasms of the muscles. During heat exhaustion, the temperature of the body rises, but it’s not as elevated as in a heatstroke. However, exhaustion from heat can be fatal if left untreated.

Seniors, infants and children are highly at risk for heat exhaustion because their bodies do not contain a high amount of water. They can become dehydrated quickly. Seniors who already take medications and suffer chronic illnesses will have a hard time maintaining their normal body temperature.

If heat exhaustion is not treated immediately, it can lead to a heatstroke. When someone suffers from a heatstroke, he is in danger of getting permanent brain damage or organ damage. Worse, he can die from severe dehydration and stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include an unusually high body temperature, hot or dry skin caused by the inability of the body to sweat, rapid pulse, slurred speech, nausea and confusion.

To prevent experiencing heat exhaustion, one has to remember to dress in loose or lightweight clothes to avoid the body from becoming overheated. Clothing that is made from natural fibers like silk or cotton allows air to circulate between the body and the clothing, so overheating does not happen. A person should always try to stay in the shade, or if one has to be out in the sun, he should wear a hat or use an umbrella. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible.

Whether doing activities indoors or outdoors, one should always remember to stay hydrated. A dehydrated body can easily heat up and can develop symptoms of heat exhaustion more quickly than a body that is properly hydrated. Drinking eight to ten ounces of water before going out into the sun can prevent the body from becoming dehydrated easily. In extreme temperatures while doing activities outdoors, drinking four to eight ounces of water every hour is highly recommended.

One should also choose the kind of fluids they take in as not all fluids have the same composition. Drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine and those that are sugary are not very ideal to take. Natural, unsweetened juices and water are the more ideal fluids that rehydrate the body. They are high in potassium content – a substance that the body needs.

When one suffers from heat exhaustion, he should be taken indoors or a shaded area where he can cool down. He should drink lots of fluids to rehydrate. A mixture of water and salt should be given to him, along with wet clothes, which he can put on himself to allow his body to cool down faster.

Dangers and Prevention of Heat Exhaustion

because their bodies do not contain a high amount of water. They can become dehydrated quickly. Seniors who already take medications and suffer chronic illnesses will have a hard time maintaining their normal body temperature.

If heat exhaustion is not treated immediately, it can lead to a heatstroke. When someone suffers from a heatstroke, he is in danger of getting permanent brain damage or organ damage. Worse, he can die from severe dehydration and stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include an unusually high body temperature, hot or dry skin caused by the inability of the body to sweat, rapid pulse, slurred speech, nausea and confusion.

To prevent experiencing heat exhaustion, one has to remember to dress in loose or lightweight clothes to avoid the body from becoming overheated. Clothing that is made from natural fibers like silk or cotton allows air to circulate between the body and the clothing, so overheating does not happen. A person should always try to stay in the shade, or if one has to be out in the sun, he should wear a hat or use an umbrella. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible.

Whether doing activities indoors or outdoors, one should always remember to stay hydrated. A dehydrated body can easily heat up and can develop symptoms of heat exhaustion more quickly than a body that is properly hydrated. Drinking eight to ten ounces of water before going out into the sun can prevent the body from becoming dehydrated easily. In extreme temperatures while doing activities outdoors, drinking four to eight ounces of water every hour is highly recommended.

One should also choose the kind of fluids they take in as not all fluids have the same composition. Drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine and those that are sugary are not very ideal to take. Natural, unsweetened juices and water are the more ideal fluids that rehydrate the body. They are high in potassium content – a substance that the body needs.

When one suffers from heat exhaustion, he should be taken indoors or a shaded area where he can cool down. He should drink lots of fluids to rehydrate. A mixture of water and salt should be given to him, along with wet clothes, which he can put on himself to allow his body to cool down faster.

Exertional Heat Illnesses
by: Lawrence Armstrong
publisher: Human Kinetics, published: 2003-04-02
ASIN: 0736037713
EAN: 9780736037716
sales rank: 1149672
price: $41.99 (new), $41.99 (used)

Learn how to identify, treat, and prevent exertional heat illnesses and ensure your sporting events are safe. Exertional Heat Illnesses provides practitioners with all the information they need in one practical reference.

Renowned exercise researcher Lawrence Armstrong, PhD, and a team of eight colleagues examine the heat illnesses most common in athletes, recreation enthusiasts, and laborers.

The only book to focus exclusively on heat-related illnesses, Exertional Heat Illnesses is full of practical advice for professionals in a variety of medical, academic, and commercial settings. Athletic trainers, physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians will find effective treatment options for all exertional heat illnesses. Coaches, athletes, industrial supervisors, and military leaders will learn the causes of heat-related illnesses and ways to prevent them. Fitness, conditioning, and training specialists will gain useful information for their clients and students. Instructors and students interested in environmental exercise physiology will also find Exertional Heat Illnesses to be a valuable textbook for courses that require advanced study.

This resource is aligned with the current accepted standards and recommendations of two prominent health and sports medicine organizations—the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).

The reference contains the following:

-A handy breakdown of how the body reacts to different heat illnesses

-Case reports detailing how other practitioners respond in real-life situations

-Abstracts of four important position stands from the ACSM and NATA and the Web sites at which you can access them
With this reference, you’ll have the tools to help athletes maintain optimal health and performance during and after exercise, and you’ll have the knowledge to treat exertional heat illnesses promptly and properly should they occur.

Exertional Heat Illnesses
by: Lawrence Armstrong
publisher: Human Kinetics, published: 2003-04-02
ASIN: 0736037713
EAN: 9780736037716
sales rank: 1149672
price: $41.99 (new), $41.99 (used)

Learn how to identify, treat, and prevent exertional heat illnesses and ensure your sporting events are safe. Exertional Heat Illnesses provides practitioners with all the information they need in one practical reference.

Renowned exercise researcher Lawrence Armstrong, PhD, and a team of eight colleagues examine the heat illnesses most common in athletes, recreation enthusiasts, and laborers.

The only book to focus exclusively on heat-related illnesses, Exertional Heat Illnesses is full of practical advice for professionals in a variety of medical, academic, and commercial settings. Athletic trainers, physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians will find effective treatment options for all exertional heat illnesses. Coaches, athletes, industrial supervisors, and military leaders will learn the causes of heat-related illnesses and ways to prevent them. Fitness, conditioning, and training specialists will gain useful information for their clients and students. Instructors and students interested in environmental exercise physiology will also find Exertional Heat Illnesses to be a valuable textbook for courses that require advanced study.

This resource is aligned with the current accepted standards and recommendations of two prominent health and sports medicine organizations—the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).

The reference contains the following:

-A handy breakdown of how the body reacts to different heat illnesses

-Case reports detailing how other practitioners respond in real-life situations

-Abstracts of four important position stands from the ACSM and NATA and the Web sites at which you can access them
With this reference, you’ll have the tools to help athletes maintain optimal health and performance during and after exercise, and you’ll have the knowledge to treat exertional heat illnesses promptly and properly should they occur.

Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
by: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
published: 2011-11-16
ASIN: B0069C3RBM

Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable yet annually many people
succumb to extreme heat. Historically, from 1979 to 1999, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. In 2001, 300 deaths were caused by excessive heat exposure.

People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. 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 may damage the brain or other vital organs.

Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with measures that aid the body’s cooling mechanisms and prevent heat-related illness. This tells how you can prevent, recognize, and cope with heat-related health problems.

First Aid Tips : How to Treat Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion may cause a person to faint, in which case the person should be placed in a cool, shaded area and then receive cold compresses applied to the forehead and body. Rehydrate a person suffering from heat exhaustion with tips from a street firefighter in this free video on first aid and medical treatments. Expert: Joe Bruni Contact: firestop.staylow@verizon.net Bio: Captain Joe Bruni has over three decades of experience as a street firefighter and company officer. Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz
Heat Exhaustion
Tanner has heat exhaustion in San Antonio after playing 6 matches in 100+ degree heat. Jason laughs at his mysery.

Heat Exhaustion

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 29th, 2011 at 10:08 AM and is filed under Health issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.