Recently, when I was on vacation in Seattle with my daughter and her family, I got dizzy after being in the sun doing tourist activities. I also sat in the car and waited for them while they did the last activity. The windows were open and it was breezy, although it was sunny.
However, I got dizzy as we were preparing dinner. I stumbled in the kitchen, but I felt O.K. as long as I was sitting down.
I finally admitted to my daughter that I was dizzy. I told her I was going to drink some salt water.
I thought I could drink some salt water since my heart doctor said I could eat more salt because I get dizzy during hot weather and sometimes I’m light headed when I get out of bed in the morning.
I thought I might have POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, but my GP and my heart doctor both tested me for it and said I don’t have it.
POTS occurs when the body can’t balance blood vessel constriction, or squeezing, and heart rate response. This means that the body can’t keep blood flow to the brain and other organs steady and stable. With POTS, the heart beats faster than normal when a person goes from sitting or lying down to standing up.
My daughter said no, no, no to drinking salt water when I was dizzy. She said it’s bad for dehydration.
I went to bed and was O.K. the next morning.
The next time we went to the store, we bought some electrolytes. They seemed to help, although the brand we bought had a lot of sugar.
People aged 65 years or older are more prone to heat-related health problems because they typically don’t adjust as well as others to sudden temperature changes. In addition, older adults are more likely to have chronic medical conditions that affect the body’s response to temperature, and to take prescription medicines that alter the body’s ability to control temperature or sweat.
To avoid heat-related illnesses, check out these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention:
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If your home doesn’t have it, contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
- Don’t rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside.
- Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
- Don’t use the stove or oven to cook – it will make you and your house hotter.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
- Don’t engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
- Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
In addition, check the weather to see if the temperature is rising. Tune in to local radio or TV stations, or check the weather app on your smart phone regularly for forecasts. In addition to the thermometer, pay attention to the heat index, which considers both air temperature and humidity levels, to determine what the temperature actually feels like.
Heat-related illnesses, according to the National Institutes for Health, include the following:
- Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that can happen when you’re active in hot weather. If you take a heart medication called a beta blocker or aren’t acclimated to hot weather, you’re even more likely to feel faint. Rest in a cool place, put your legs up, and drink water to make the dizzy feeling go away.
- Heat cramps are the painful tightening or spasms of muscles in your stomach, arms, or legs. Cramps can result from hard work or intense exercise. Though your body temperature and pulse usually stay normal during heat cramps, your skin may feel moist and cool. Stop the physical activity you’re doing and rest in the shade or in a cool building. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water and sports drinks containing electrolytes. Don’t consume alcohol or caffeinated beverages.
- Heat edema is a swelling in your ankles and feet when you get hot. Put your legs up to help reduce swelling. If that doesn’t work fairly quickly, check with your doctor.
- Heat rash is a skin irritation from heavy sweating. It causes red clusters of small blisters that look similar to pimples on the skin. Your skin may feel itchy or you may feel “prickly” tingling pain. Keep the infected area dry, use powder to sooth the rash, and stay in cool areas.
- Heat exhaustion is a warning that your body can no longer keep itself cool. You might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated, and nauseated. You may sweat a lot. Your body temperature may stay normal, but your skin may feel cold and clammy. Some people with heat exhaustion have a rapid pulse. Rest in a cool place and get plenty of fluids. If you don’t feel better soon, get medical care. Be cautious because heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.
- Heat stroke is a medical emergency in which the body’s temperature rises above 104°F. Signs of heat stroke are fainting; confusion or acting strangely; not sweating even when it’s hot; dry, flushed skin; strong, rapid pulse; or a slow, weak pulse. When a person has any of these symptoms, they should seek medical help right away and immediately move to a cooler place, such as under shade or indoors. They should also take action to lower their body temperature with cool clothes, a cool bath or shower, and fans.
- Sun exposure, also known as sunburn, is a sign of skin damage due to extreme or long exposure. Your skin may appear red and tender, develop blisters, start to peel, and be warm to the touch. Severe reactions may cause fever, chills, nausea, or rash. Prevent sunburn by wearing protective clothing that covers your skin and staying out of direct sunlight. Using a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher can also help prevent sunburns, but be sure to reapply often. If you are sunburned, wear lightweight clothing, take cool showers, moisturize affected areas, and stay out of the sun so your skin can heal.
If you are concerned about any of these heat-related illnesses, talk with your doctor.
Best wishes during the rest of the hot summer. I know most of the country is going to have many more hot days, unlike the Seattle area where I live, which has a mild climate.
