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Hydrate: Protect Yourself Against the Dangers of Heat Exhaustion

Guest Article

By Dan W. Heller, Pharm D. Smith’s Food & Drug Stores August 21, 2016
This is a guest article from Daniel W. Heller, Pharm D., Patient Care Coordinator for Smith’s Food & Drug Stores.

It’s that time of year again – summertime in Las Vegas. With extremely high temperatures assaulting residents on a daily basis, we see several pharmacy customers with heat-related illnesses and questions about treatment as the pharmacy is usually the first line of defense before seeing a doctor or visiting a quick care/emergency department. It’s important to know not only the proper forms of treatment, but what steps that can be taken to prevent yourself and your family from falling victim to heat exhaustion.
Heat exhaustion is simply when the body experiences prolonged exposure in high temperatures and can no longer handle heat, leading to dehydration and other complications. This doesn’t just happen because of prolonged exposure to sunlight and the natural environment – it can also stem from intense exercising in heavy clothing, spending too much time in a spa or sauna, etc. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, fatigue and overall body weakness, nausea, profuse sweating, confusion, headaches, dizziness and possible fainting. The person may also experience a rapidly beating heart, called heart palpitations.

Heat exhaustion is the most common form of heat-related illness, with heat stroke being 
the most extreme, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, death.
Young children and the elderly are highly susceptible to heat-related illnesses because their bodies can not, or can no longer adjust to extreme heat the same as most adults, so we have to keep a look out for signs of distress as the individual may not realize what is happening. Take note if your child or senior looks overly flushed and sweaty, seems weak and/or confused, or complains of intense thirst or nausea.
How do we treat it? The good news is, in most cases the body can recover fairly quickly with a few
simple steps:
 Go indoors. As easy as it sounds, quickly remove yourself from the heat and get back inside to a
cool environment. Try taking a cool bath or shower to help lower body temperature.
 Cool down and calm down. Try lying flat on your back with both legs raised; you can also help
cool your body temperature down by using ice packs or wet towels, sitting directly in front of a
cooling source, etc.
 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Dehydration is the lack of water that exists in the body, so it is
crucial to replace it as quickly as possible by drinking plenty of fluids. One question that I am
continually asked is how much water a person should drink on average. There really isn’t a
certain amount to look for and it varies among adults, children and seniors. A good indicator of
satisfactory water intake is urine. Light, clear urine is good and means that you are keeping your
body properly hydrated; dark urine, or the absence of urinating regularly throughout the day,
means the body is holding on to whatever fluid it has to try and prevent dehydration and a sign
that you need to drink more water to help replenish needs and remain healthy.
The best form of treatment, of course, is taking preventative measures so that you or your family won’t fall victim to heat exhaustion in the first place:
 Morning time is the best time. For any planned outdoor activity, try to schedule it during the early morning hours. Even in the evening, temperatures can be brutal so it’s best to exercise, walk the dog, do the gardening, etc. before the heat becomes too intense.
 Once again, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. If time outdoors can’t be avoided, try to drink plenty of water before heading out (10-20 ounces), and drink even more if strenuous activity is on the agenda. It’s much tougher to replace fluids when suffering, so drinking plenty of water beforehand will help tremendously.
 Protect your skin. Our skin is our protective barrier, so remember to wear loose fitting clothing and hats, and don’t forget the SPF 15.