Oklahoma City VA Medical Center

The weather has been extremely hot throughout much of the nation for many weeks this summer.  High temperatures are not just uncomfortable.  They can be dangerous, especially for people who work outdoors.

Our natural way to cook down is to sweat.  As the moisture evaporates from our skin, some of our body heat is carried away.  But this cooling system is limited, especially when the humidity is high.

When we sweat we lose water.  If we do not drink enough water to replace the water we lose through our perspiration we can become dehydrated, limiting the effectiveness of our natural cooling system.
If we cannot adequately cool ourselves then our body temperature will rise.  Symptoms can include muscle cramps, fatigue, dizziness, headache, and nausea.  In severe cases overheating can lead to coma and death.  Nationwide, dozens of people have reportedly died this summer from the excessive heat.

What can we do to avoid heat-related medical problems?  The best prevention is to stay indoors, using an air conditioner or fan to keep us cool.

Working outside during hot weather should be done only in moderation.  Periodically resting in the shade – or better yet in an air conditioned location – allows us to cool down before we resume work.
If we must be outside we need to stay well hydrated by drinking fluids.  Plain tap water is fine in most situations, and is much cheaper than bottled water or sports drinks.  The frequently recommended rule to drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day is not based on science.  Instead, we should drink enough fluids to make our urine pale yellow in color.  However, it is possible to drink too much fluid, especially for those of us with kidney or heart disease.  If we have such health problems we may need to consult with our doctor about how much we can safely drink.

With increasing age adults lose some of our ability to deal with the heat.  Those of us who are over age 65 need to be particularly cautious about working or exercising when the temperatures are high.  Keeping cool helps us avoid a serious medical condition.

When it comes to hot weather we need to heed Benjamin Franklin’s wise words, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Contributed by John F. Tompkins II, M.D, author of An Ounce of Prevention: The Truth About Our Health.

Visit Health Promotion/Disease Prevention webpage for more information on health and wellness.