It’s hot outside –be alert to heatstroke

By TOICHA VINCENT, M.D.

Meteorologists are forecasting hot, elevated temperatures all across Texas. In Houston and surrounding areas, tripledigit temperatures are expected multiple times before summer’s end. So please stay alert to a heat-related health hazard known as heatstroke.

Sometimes called sunstroke, heatstroke is a dangerous condition occurring when you get too hot and your body’s cooling mechanisms can’t return you to a normal temperature. Some mistakenly believe heatstroke only happens while engaged in vigorous outdoor physical activities. However, heat-related illnesses can overtake you during routine yard work or playing golf on a sweltering day.

Know heatstroke symptoms.

Heatstroke victims may present various

FROM THE DOC

“Don’t be fooled: Skin may be moist or dry depending on the speed the heatstroke develops and your hydration status.” warning symptoms with or without sweating, including headache, mental confusion, slurred speech, dizziness, nausea, and, without treatment, unconsciousness.

Dr. Vincent is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician at Memorial Villages Campus.

If you or someone exhibits these symptoms, get to a shaded area or cooler environment and apply cool compresses to the neck and forehead. If symptoms persist, call 911 for immediate assistance. Although rare, unmanaged heatstroke can prove fatal.

Take precautions.

• If possible, limit outdoor activity between noon and 5 p.m.

• Should your job require outdoor work, as do agricultural, construction, Public Works, and landscaping workers, be advised to:

Stay hydrated! Drink fluids every 15 to 20 minutes. Cool water is best. Sports drinks with electrolytes are also beneficial. Avoid caffeine and sugary drinks.

– Take frequent breaks in the shade.

– Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and a wide-brimmed hat. If your job requires a hard hat for safety gear, wear a moistened cooling towel around your neck.

Infants and the elderly are particularly susceptible to heatstroke. Make sure they stay hydrated with access to air conditioning or electric fans. And I can’t overemphasize this: Never leave a child in a parked car!

Kelsey-Seybold welcomes new patients and accepts more than 50 health insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and many more.

We have 36 convenient locations close to home and work –and still growing!