HEALTHY
Lifestyle
HEALTH UPDATE
ATHLETES & HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES By Dr. Josiah Onyenekwe, MD
As students head back to school and athletes get back in the game this fall, there are many health-related issues student athletes need to be on the lookout for. In Arkansas specifically, heat-related illnesses can be a major cause for concern among students spending a lot of time outside. There are actually several different disease states and syndromes directly related to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The symptoms can range from heat exhaustion, exercise-induced muscle cramps or collapse, heat edema, and life-threatening heatstroke. Those
at the highest risk for these are athletes, outdoor laborers and military personnel. Several factors can lead to an individual’s having an increased risk. Those can range from medications, environmental exposure, unknown or known medical conditions, and the inability to adapt to the current climate. This is usually due to an impaired ability of the body to cool itself based on the exposure, the body’s nourishment, and any restriction that can lead to an impaired cooling mechanism. Some major risk factors are strenuous exercise in high temperatures or
THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVERAL DIFFERENT DISEASE STATES AND SYNDROMES DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HIGH TEMPERATURES. humidity; poor physical fitness; or excessive gear, clothing, or equipment. These heat-related illnesses are often found in high school students, with nearly 9,000 cases reported each year, and heat-related illnesses are among the top causes of death in athletes. It is crucial to the safety of student athletes to understand the different conditions and their symptoms.
MILD CONDITIONS Heat Edema Heat edema typically presents with facial flushing or redness, and extremity swelling (usually in the lower extremity). Treatment consists of moving from the heat and elevating the extremity. Heat Cramps Symptoms of heat cramps include muscle spasms that occur mostly in the stomach, calves or thighs, normal body temperature, moist and cool skin (usually occurs after extended or intense physical activity). Treatment normally consists of moving from the heat, resting, leg elevation, stretching, massage, and oral electrolyte or fluid repletion. Heat Rash Symptoms of a heat rash include red papules/pustules or lesions on the 22 • Saline County Lifestyles • 13th Annual Salt Bowl Edition
