Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Sweating heavily?
Pale?
Muscle cramps, tiredness, headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting and fainting?
If those symptoms are severe or last for more than one hour, seek medical attention because you could be suffering from heat exhaustion, and that can lead to heat stroke.
"Any time you have temperatures over 90 degrees, any time you have high humidity like we have in Indiana," said Dr. David Darr, the time is right for heat-related illnesses.
Whether a person has heat exhaustion or heat stroke depends upon the degree of the problem the individual has. The more severe, the more likely heat exhaustion will become heat stroke.
Darr said, "Heat stroke is much more dangerous and lethal. You basically stop sweating and body temperature goes to 106 degrees or above." If that happens, he said, get to an emergency room immediately.
Heat-related illnesses occur because the body overheats and can no longer keep up the cooling process. But there are ways to prevent heat exhaustion and stroke.
"During physical activity, keep up with fluid intake, drink water. If you're outside exercising, use Gatorade drinks or one of those mixes," Darr said. "For the average person, if you're exercising for less than an hour and it's not strenuous, water is fine."
Alcohol drinks are not a good idea anytime to prevent heat-related illnesses.
"Alcohol makes you more prone to heat exhaustion, heat stroke," said Darr. "It dehydrates you."
Heat stroke is not limited to just one segment of the population, Darr said. Anyone can experience heat exhaustion or stroke. Athletes and the elderly are those who experience the most problems, though.
But that doesn't mean children can't.
"Make sure children aren't left in cars. Pets, too, even for a short period of time," said Darr.
Besides drinking lots of fluids, there are other ways to prevent heat-related illnesses.
"If you're actually swimming, that's pretty unlikely for (heat stroke or heat exhaustion) to happen," Darr said. "It's actually a good way to prevent heat exhaustion. You do have to watch out for sunburn, though."
In addition, the Indiana State Department of Health offers the following advice:
• Pace yourself. Take frequent breaks to take in fluids and cool off out of the heat when working or playing outdoors.
• Take it easy. Strenuous activities can wait until weather cools.
• Stay cool. Use air conditioning. Take cool baths, showers or sponge baths.
• Eat lighter meals. Avoid using a stove if possible.
• Dress appropriately. Light-colored, lightweight cotton clothing is best.
• Drink fluids and carry water when away from home.
• Stay in the shade.
• Look after the very young, people with chronic conditions and the elderly.
Darr will be joining Provident Family Health Care June 28. A Warsaw native, he is now accepting new clients.
