Keeping Healthy: Heat Exhaustion

Especially in an area that is prone to pretty brutal winters, when the heat arrives - we're all ready to jump in our bathing suits and bask in the sun.  But before you spend too much time in the heat - beware - heat exhaustion can hit anyone.

"Heat exhaustion is when the body's temperature reaches 100-103 degrees, and you're losing a lot of salt and a lot of sodium."

Nurse Manager Jean Guiney says along with body temps increasing, for those suffering from heat exhaustion, their heart beat becomes rapid, they feel light-headed and dizzy, cognition becomes fuzzy, and can become weak.  And it's not something that can be left untreated.

"Heat exhaustion can actually lead to heat stroke, it becomes to the point where your body temperature is almost up to 105 degrees, your mental capacity really starts to change, your heart becomes real irregular because it starts straining, you really lost a lot of fluid and electrolytes and it can actually lead to a cardiac arrhythmia."

And even death. Guiney says while it can affect the younger population - older people are more at risk because they don't have the muscle and fat tissue to regulate the body's temperature. 

What are the signs to look out for? Guiney says cool and clammy skin, confusion, and nausea or vomiting.  And more importantly - what can you do to help someone who might be suffering from exhaustion?

"They need to be taking out of the heat if you find them outside they need to be taken to a cool dark place - well not a dark place - but somewhere with a breeze going through, cool down their body temperature, don't through ice on them, just cool cloths, call and ambulance...they can try sips of water don't make them guzzle water right away."

And with the boilermaker coming up - Guiney says typically runners hydrate well, get a lots of sleep before the race, and eat a high carb meal before the run - but she says they can still suffer from exhaustion and need to be careful. That's especially true for new runners.  Everyone - young and older - should know the signs - and know how to stay healthy.

"Eat small meals, lots of fluids, they need to take breaks as much as anybody else, they need to get out of the sun... loose clothing, light clothing nothing dark... little bits at a time, not a lot, not an extended period of time."