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Home Sections Health and Medicine Common-sense Tips for Avoiding Heat Stroke
Common-sense Tips for Avoiding Heat Stroke PDF Print E-mail
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Sections - Health and Medicine
Monday, 20 August 2007 08:42
The News UpFront: ~ Rising temperatures can put some people at increased health risk, according to the American Heart Association. Here, it offers common-sense tips on how to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

KEEPING COOL

Common Sense Tips to Avoid Heat Stroke

By the American Heart Association


SAN DIEGO - Strenuous physical activity, even running errands, leads to heat-related illness and can turn deadly, says the American Heart Association in an advisory sent to the Philippine Village Voice.

It is especially important that people with heart problems take it easy this time of year because high temperatures can leave you dehydrated in a matter of minutes – increasing risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

If you’re out in the heat and begin to feel dizzy, nauseated or thirsty; or if you develop a headache, stop and find a cooler place to sit down and drink some water.

Heat and humidity interfere with the body’s natural cooling process. The heart is trying to deliver blood and oxygen to your working muscles at the same time your body is trying to cool off by sweating. If you sweat too much, you lose important body fluids.

Then, your heart has to pump even harder to get the smaller volume of blood distributed to your working muscles, skin and the other body parts. Extreme fluid loss can lead to brain and heart damage.

Plan your activities for the cooler part of the day such as early morning or late evening. Drink a cup of water before going out in the heat. People who are active for periods longer than 30 minutes should drink six to eight ounces of water (about a cup) every 10 to 15 minutes.

A good way to monitor your body fluid level is to weigh yourself every morning. If your weight is two or more pounds lower than usual in the morning, you may be dehydrated and need to drink more water before doing any vigorous physical activity. Remember, you may have lost weight as water, but not as fat.

The risk of dehydration increases when the humidity is above 70 percent and the temperature is greater than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can quickly lead to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.

Heat exhaustion symptoms: sweating; cold, clammy skin; dizziness; a rapid pulse; throbbing pressure in your head; chills; flushed appearance; and nausea.

Symptoms of heat stroke: warm, dry skin with no sweating or heavy sweating; cold, clammy skin; low blood pressure; confusion and/or unconsciousness. High fever, a slow pulse and ashen or gray skin are other telltale signs.

Get emergency medical help if you experience heat stroke or recognize the symptoms in others. Visit www.americanheart.org to learn more.

BREAKING NEWS -
Issue No. 57 NEWS WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR

A community service of San Diego's Philippine Village Voice (
PhilVoiceNews@aol.com or at 619.265.0611) for the information and better understanding of the public.



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Last Updated on Thursday, 30 August 2007 00:25
 

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