Heat Illness Awareness

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Many people with health conditions, including the youngest and oldest of our population have trouble dealing with extreme temperatures.

And with summer temperatures continuing to climb compounded with Ohio’s natural humidity, heat affected illnesses can come about quickly. Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department Director of Nursing Carol Howdyshell explained heat related illnesses and offered strategies on how to prevent them from happening.

“Heat related illnesses, I would define them as when your body struggles to deal with the heat. Heat Exhaustion is when… take the word exhaustion, your body’s getting really tired. Heavy sweating, your body’s trying to cool itself down, some dizziness, some nausea. Heat Stroke is life threatening. If you find that you stop sweating, that’s a big key. If you go unconscious, those are life threatening situations.”  said.

Sweating is the body’s primary way of cooling itself and drinking plenty of water is key to replacing the hydration your body has spent sweating.

“I would encourage folks to listen to their body,” Howdyshell said. “If you’re feeling really hot, try taking a cool shower. If you don’t have air conditioning, maybe go to the new library, the library’s been reopened or go to the mall, see a movie. Just kind of take care of yourself that way. If you have yard or garden work early, early in the morning or in the evening, when the sun’s not as hot. Pace yourself. Take those breaks and those rest breaks. Drink lots of water.”

Howdyshell advises not to wait until you’re thirsty to rehydrate and that beverages with alcohol and caffeine might worsen heat related illnesses.