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Heat-related disorders can be deadly but preventable by Kathryne Young Public Relations According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 175 to 200 people die from heat- related disorders during an average year in the United States. This particular statistic rises to more than 1,500 during heat waves.   Preventing these illnesses is imperative and possible.    “The most important thing to remember is the value of not overstepping your boundaries when it comes to physical exertion,” said Laurence Raney, M.D., of Emergency Medicine. “People do not realize the importance of being in good shape and acclimatization to heat and humidity.”   Charlestonian residents swelter from the heat this time of year and people must remember that dangers do exist in extreme heat conditions.   Heat-related illnesses come in a variety of forms.  These illnesses, in order of severity, include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat syncope.   Heat syncope occurs when the body faints due to compensating for too much heat by diverting blood from the brain to the skin.  Fluids and a cool environment help this condition.   Heat cramps, painful muscle contractions, usually develop in the muscles at the back of the legs.  These cramps come from exposure to heat, dehydration, and poor conditioning.  They improve with rest, drinking water, and a cool environment.    Heat exhaustion, a far more serious illness than heat syncope or heat cramps, results from excessive heat and dehydration. Signs and symptoms of this condition include paleness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, and a moderately increased temperature. Rest and water prove helpful in mild cases of heat exhaustion, along with ice packs and a cool environment. For severe cases, patients may need IV fluids, especially if vomiting keeps them from drinking enough water. Remember, heat exhaustion can develop into heat stroke.    Heat stroke, the most serious heat-related illness, can be fatal. This illness arises from the failure of the body’s temperature control systems. This can even occur in those who do not experience physical exertion from exercise during hot weather. Those with symptoms of heat stroke have warm, flushed skin and do not sweat. A person with heat stroke usually has an extremely high temperature of about 106 degrees  and may be delirious, unconscious, or having seizures. Other signs of heat stroke include hyperventilating, lethargy, confusion, and a racing pulse. These people need to have their temperature reduced as soon as possible with ice packs and they must also be given IV fluids for rehydration.  Patients with heat stroke must be taken to the hospital immediately and may have to remain in the hospital for observation since many body organs fail in heat stroke.    Heat-related illnesses have many danger signs. Two conditions, heat edema and prickly heat, signal a body might be suffering from extreme stress from heat. When the blood vessels expand and allow fluid to pool under the skin, heat edema occurs, causing the hands and feet to swell.  Blockage of the sweat pores causes prickly heat, an irritating rash that usually forms under clothing.  This occurs because people either overdress for the weather or wear fitted clothing that doesn’t breathe.    Avoiding alcohol, limiting vigorous activities during hot or humid weather, drinking plenty of water, and wearing loose fitting and light-colored clothing serve as methods of preventing heat stroke and other heat-related conditions.  The most pressing method of prevention is to remain well hydrated with water and Gatorade.   “Drink a lot of water, not what you desire or think you need, but as much as you can,” advises Raney.   Understanding the many different heat related illnesses and their symptoms will help people know how to respond to these conditions, but taking the necessary steps of prevention could save lives.     Friday, July 22, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.