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Health & Fitness

Kaiser Permanente urges hot weather caution in Silicon Valley

High temps, poor air potentially dangerous, says Kaiser Permanente physician

 

                Silicon Valley  temperatures are forecast to rise above 90-degrees over the next few days and with that, officials have called their first “Spare the Air” day alert for the year . And a fire in North San Jose has added smoky pollution to the air.  Hot weather and pollution are not a good combination for those outside and exerting themselves, says Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara’s Dr. Tom Dailey.

                “If you are overweight, have health problems, take medicines, or use alcohol, you may be at a higher risk for heat-related illness,” says Dr. Dailey, a Pulmonologist and Critical Care physician.

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                Heat-related illnesses include heat exhaustion and the far-more-dangerous heat stroke condition. But Dr. Dailey says even those who are healthy and normally active need to be careful when the temperatures rise and the air quality goes down.

                “I’m an avid cyclist but the heat and pollution hanging over us from yesterday’s big San Jose fire means I’m cancelling an evening ride by our physician’s group,” says Dr. Dailey.

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                He says exercise will lead to heavier breathing and the danger of inhaling lung-damaging microscopic particles in the smoke from the fire in North San Jose.

                “The heat creates an ‘inversion layer’ that basically presses air pollution closer to the ground and then ‘cooks’ it, adding to the danger,”  says Dr Dailey. 

                Heat exhaustion occurs when a person cannot sweat enough to cool the body. It generally develops when a person is working or exercising in hot weather, sweats a lot, and does not drink enough liquids to replace those lost fluids. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include fatigue, weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea and skin that are pale, cool and moist.

Mild heat exhaustion does not cause a decrease in a person's mental alertness, but it may occasionally cause fainting. Mild cases of heat exhaustion usually can be treated at home. Moderate to severe heat exhaustion can sometimes lead to heat stroke, which requires emergency treatment.

Heat stroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature, and body temperature continues to rise. Symptoms of heat stroke include mental changes (such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness) and skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits because the person has stopped sweating. Classic heat stroke can develop without exertion when a person is exposed to a hot environment and the body is unable to cool itself effectively. Classic heat stroke may develop over several days. Babies, older adults, and people with chronic health problems have the greatest risk of this type of heat stroke.

Exertional heat stroke may develop when a person is working or exercising in a hot environment. A person with heat stroke from exertion may sweat profusely, but the body still produces more heat than it can lose. This causes the body's temperature to rise to high levels. Both types of heat stroke cause severe dehydration and can cause body organs to stop functioning.

Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency, requiring emergency medical treatment.

These heat safety measures may help prevent or decrease the risk of a heat-related illness:

·         Acclimate to the heat by gradually increasing your exposure to physical activity in the heat. It may take 10-14 days to become acclimated.

·         Remain well-hydrated by drinking eight fluid ounces of water before being active in the heat.

·         Continue to drink moderate amounts of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes during the activity.

Wear clothing that is light-colored, lightweight, single-layered, and absorbent, allowing evaporation of body sweat.



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