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It’s going to be hot this weekend, and when I say hot, I mean record-breaking temperatures. In Arizona, in the summer, that means we could reach 120 degrees today and tomorrow! As a Phoenix physician, these weather occurrences bring with them a host of health concerns. And, even though Arizona residents should be well acquainted with the Do’s and Don’t of such hot weather, we feel it’s extremely important to reiterate some elements of summer you should be thinking about this weekend.
Arizona Heat Warnings
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning to run through the weekend. What does this really mean? From a Phoenix physician’s perspective, it means that everyone is at risk for health-related illnesses, not just the young or old.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
PLAN YOUR DAY AND MAKE PLANS TO STAY COOL. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF WORKING OR SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE AND LIMIT STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNINGS OR EVENINGS. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. DRINK A LOT OF WATER. IF POSSIBLE WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHES AND A WIDE-BRIMMED HAT TO KEEP YOUR HEAD AND BODY COOL.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK…THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9 1 1. (National Weather Service)
Air Quality Alert
This weekend we will also be under an Air Quality Alert from the National Weather Service. This means that pollutions and allergens in the air will be unusually high, and that concerns Phoenix physicians. Heat and poor air quality are a double edged sword when it comes to health-related illnesses.
THIS MEANS THAT FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH EXISTING OZONE LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RESULT IN LOCAL MAXIMUM 8-HOUR OZONE CONCENTRATIONS THAT POSE A HEALTH RISK. ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS INCREASE AS AIR QUALITY DETERIORATES.
OZONE IS AN AIR CONTAMINANT WHICH CAN CAUSE BREATHING DIFFICULTIES FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. A DECREASE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS RECOMMENDED. (National Weather Service)
Health Impacts of Extreme Heat
As a Phoenix physician, the best advice that we can give on days like this is to be smart and use common sense. When the Arizona heat becomes this extreme, and air quality becomes so poor, everyone is at risk for everything from sunburns to heat cramps, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, dehydration, even heart attack and death.
We definitely do not want to alarm any of our patients or readers, however everyone needs to be keenly aware of what to do and what not to do on weekends like this.
- DO drink plenty of water, and I mean plenty. You might not realize just how much water your body needs when it gets this hot until it’s too late. As a Phoenix physician, I can’t tell you how many times we tell patients to drink more water. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors today, working or playing, drink water.
- DON’T drink sodas or energy drinks to substitute for water. These can actually facilitate dehydration in the body and deplete the body of essential elements needed to keep you healthy on these extremely hot days.
- DO talk to your Phoenix physician about any prescription medications you are on and how those affect your hydration levels. Certain medications can affect how your body processes not only water, but how your skin will react in the sun.
- DON’T assume the medications you are on are harmless on days like today.
- DO wear light and loose clothing!
- DO apply a lot of sunscreen!
- DON’T assume that clothing will keep you from getting sunburnt. Many items of loose clothing will still allow sun through, especially when it’s 120 degrees outside and the sun is at it’s most dangerous.
- DO pace yourself throughout the day. Phoenix physicians see patients who have simply overdone it on these hot days and don’t realize it until symptoms of heat stroke begin to set in.
- DON’T drink alcohol! Whether you’re going to be at the lake or floating down the river this weekend, avoid alcohol at all costs. In this heat, you literally have no idea how quickly that alcohol will dehydrate you.
- DON’T assume that because you’re at the lake or on the river you are safe from the heat of the summer sun.
One item that we cannot stress enough is to keep your eyes on your kids, animals and grandparents. Kids will run until they can’t run anymore, and on these extremely hot days, as Phoenix physicians, we definitely don’t want to see any little ones or seniors with heat-related illnesses.
If you think you might be suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion this weekend, stay indoors, drink plenty of fluids, don’t push it, and make an appointment immediately.