新澳门六合彩内幕信息

Stay Healthy and Cool During the Heatwave

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Sun shines through Morris Fountain's flowinjg water.
The Davis campus鈥檚 Morris Fountain on a hot day in 2018: We feel cooler just looking at it. (Gregory Urquiaga/新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis)

The triple-digit temperatures forecast for this week can expose people to . 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Health occupational and environmental medicine physician and sports medicine physician offer tips to beat the heat and stay cool and healthy. 

  • Drink before you鈥檙e thirsty 鈥 Thirst is often the first sign of dehydration. Belafsky recommends those who work outdoors drink one quart of water per hour. Those who work indoors should consider setting a 鈥渨ater alarm鈥 to remind them to stay hydrated. 
  • Acclimate yourself to the heat 鈥 鈥淚t can take a few weeks to acclimate your body to the heat,鈥 Belafsky said. 鈥淏e mindful and recognize that your water requirements will increase.鈥 Keep visitors in mind, Waite added, especially as COVID-19 restrictions are lifting and more people are traveling. 鈥淥ut-of-town visitors may not be accustomed to our triple-digit temperatures and should especially take it easy the first few days,鈥 she said. 
  • Skip the caffeine 鈥 鈥淚t鈥檚 tempting to reach for a soda or iced tea on a warm day to quench your thirst,鈥 Belafsky said. 鈥淏ut people aren鈥檛 aware that the caffeine they鈥檙e consuming is doing the exact opposite of what they need. It's dehydrating.鈥 Instead, she recommends opting for herbal iced tea that鈥檚 decaffeinated, sparkling water, or creating your own 鈥渟pa water鈥 infused with fresh fruit. 
  • Exercise indoors or during the coolest parts of the day 鈥 鈥淧eople who exercise regularly often don鈥檛 consider the effects of heat on their performance and overall health,鈥 Waite said. While right after work is a common time to exercise, this is typically the hottest time of day. Make sure to do it during the cooler morning and possibly evening hours. 
  • Wear breathable fabrics 鈥 Try wearing lightweight cotton, linen or a blend that feels cool to the touch and is breathable. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester that don鈥檛 allow the body鈥檚 natural cooling system to work. If you鈥檒l be in and out of buildings with air conditioning, Belafsky suggests wearing light layers. 
  • Take regular timeouts amid outdoor activities 鈥 鈥淪chedule a minimum of 10 minutes in the shade for every hour of exercise or activity,鈥 Waite said. 鈥淐hildren, older people and those who are less fit need more rest.鈥 She notes that youngsters aren鈥檛 always aware that they need rest periods and water breaks. 
  • Know your personal risk 鈥 鈥淐ertain populations are more vulnerable to the heat,鈥 Belafsky said. 鈥淧eople with chronic kidney disease or diabetes, for example. It鈥檚 important to understand how extreme temperatures affect your medical condition.鈥 Belafsky also shared that common medications can impact a person鈥檚 ability to stay cool or hydrated. Thyroid medication and diuretics that treat blood pressure can cause excessive sweating and salt depletion that leads to dehydration. Beta-blockers for heart conditions can impair sweating which makes it hard for the body to cool itself. 

Heat-related illness

鈥淗eat-related illness can rapidly lead to a medical emergency, so it is essential to take action at the first warning signs,鈥 Waite said.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke often occur in people working hard or exercising in hot weather, but they can happen to anyone on a hot day. People especially at risk are the elderly, children, overweight or obese individuals, and those with heart conditions or taking certain medications such as diuretics (also known as water pills). 

  • Heat exhaustion is an early stage of heat stroke. The person feels excessively tired, weak, and nauseous, and may feel dizzy and even briefly pass out. The skin is cool and clammy and may appear either flushed or pale. Have the person sit or lie down in a shady location and give cool drinks 鈥 the colder, the better. Try anything to cool the victim down: Loosen or take off extra clothes, sponge with cold water, and place him or her near a fan. If the person does not get better or symptoms get worse, seek medical care immediately. 
  • Heat stroke is a very dangerous condition. The body stops sweating, and the internal temperature climbs to high levels, although the person may get what feels like chills. The skin may be quite dry and hot. People with heat stroke may be confused, agitated and have blurry or double vision. Have the person lie down and call 911 at once while others continue efforts to cool the victim down. They may also lose consciousness.

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