How To Avoid Heat Exhaustion In The Summer Months
Heat exhaustion occurs when there is an excessive loss of salt and water, which usually happens through excessive sweating.
Heat exhaustion is most likely to occur in the elderly, individuals with high blood pressure, athletes, and those working in high temperature environments.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, thirst, headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and decreased urine output.
Ways to prevent heat exhaustion include replacing lost fluids and electrolytes (preferably with cold fluids), avoiding activity during high heat times (between 12pm and 6pm), and using cooling measures such as shade, fans, and cooling towels.
It is especially important for athletes to consume more fluids during the hot summer months to combat the loss of fluids through sweating. Dehydration in athletes can hinder athletic performance by cutting endurance time nearly in half. Dehydration can also influence your mental state, which can lead to poor concentration and sluggish reaction times.
Hydration tips for athletes:
Hydrate prior to activity. Prevention is key!
Consume water and electrolytes during activity.
Continue to hydrate with water and electrolytes after activity. This will help decrease recovery times and post-workout fatigue in addition to restoring hydration.
Elera offers many different IV fluids that can be customized to fit your hydration needs. We offer IV fluids alone, or can add vitamins and minerals to the IV fluids to replace nutrients lost while sweating. Some of our favorite bags to replace lost fluid volume and nutrients include:
1000ml Quench
1000ml Recovery and Performance
Call us today to schedule your pre or post summer activity IV hydration today! (775) 544-6431.
Sources:
Heat Stress Related Illness | NIOSH | CDC. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html
Effects of Dehydration On Atheletic Performance. (n.d.). https://www.spoonerpt.com/. Retrieved May 23, 2023, from https://www.spoonerpt.com/spooner-blog/effects-dehydration-athletic-performance/