Environmental Considerations

Hyperthermia  Hyperthermia- elevated body temperature  Heat can be gained or lost through  Metabolic heat production- how hard you are working (sprinting vs jogging  Conductive heat exchange- physical contact with objects (standing on turf)  Convective Heat- air or water moves around body  Radiant heat- heat from sun  Evaporative heat loss- sweating and evaporation from the body

Prevention of hyperthermia Appropriate hydration Unrestricted fluid and electrolyte replacement Gradual acclimatization Identification of susceptible individuals Appropriate uniforms Weight records Monitoring of the heat index

Dehydration  Sign and symptoms-  Thirst  Dry mouth  Headache  Dizziness  Irritability  Lethargy  Excessive fatigue  cramps

Monitoring heat index  Heat and humidity is worst than just heat.  Humidity make is different for sweat to evaporate.  If your sweat does not evaporate you body is not cooling.

Heat illnesses p 159  Heat Rash- benign condition sign and symptoms- red raised rash

Heat Illnesses  Heat Syncope- rapid physical fatigue during overexposure to heat  Sign and symptoms- dizziness, fainting and nausea.  Treatment- lying down in cool environment, fluids

Heat Illnesses  Heat Cramps-  Causes- hard work in heat, sweating heavily, imbalance between water and electrolytes  Sign and symptoms- muscle twitching cramps, spasms in arms, legs and abdomen  Treatment- fluids, mild stretching, ice massage

Heat Illnesses cont.  Heat Exhaustion-  Causes- prolonged sweating leading to dehydration and inability to sustain adequate cardiac output  Sign and symptoms- Excessive thirst, dry tongue and mouth, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, reduced sweating, dark urine  Treatment- Fluids, sponge with cool water.

Heat Illnesses  Heat Stroke- Thermoregulatory failure of sudden onset, Life threatening  Causes- CNS abnormality  Sign and symptoms- headache, vertigo, fatigue, flushed skin, less sweating, rapidly increasing pulse, rapid rise in temperature 104. Athlete feels as if he is burning up, can lead to permanent brain damage  Treatment- cool body, water submersion, 911.

Heat Illnesses  Exertional hyponatremia-  Causes- Fluid/electrolyte disorder resulting in low concentration of sodium in blood.  Sign and symptoms- Progressively worsening headache, nausea and vomiting, swelling in hands and feet, lethargy, compromised central nervous system  Treatment- do not try to rehydrate, transport, 911. sodium levels must be increased

Hypothermia  Causes- overexposed to cold and humidity  Sign and symptoms- impairment of neuromuscular response and exhaustion, decrease in core body temperature, shivering ceases below Death at  Treatment- move to warm environment, 911.

Altitude  Natives- larger chest capacity, more alveoli, more capillaries, higher red blood cell  Resident adaption includes conservation of glucose, increased number of mitochondria, increased formation of hemoglobin  Visitors- increased breathing, increased heart action, increased hemoglobin,

Altitude illnesses  Acute mountain sickness- 1out of 3 people.  Sign and symptoms- headache, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea  Causes- tissue disruption in the brain affects sodium and potassium balance causing fluid retention  Staying hydrated can help prevent

Altitude illness  High altitude pulmonary edema-  Small amount of fluid within the alveolar walls  Symptoms- dysnea, cough, headache, weakness and unconsciousness  Treatment- move to lower altitude and give O2.

Altitude illnesses  High Altitude cerebral edema- life threatening condition that can lead to coma or death  Caused by increased cerebral blood flow  Symptoms- severe headache, bizarre behavior and neurological abnormalities  Treatment- get to lower altitude

Altitude illnesses  Sickle-Cell Trait Reaction- sickle cell trait is a abnormality in the structure of the red blood cell and their hemoglobin content  When the abnormal hemoglobin molecules become deoxygenated as a result of exercise at high altitude the cells tend to clump together  This condition can cause an enlarged spleen  orner/post/sickle-cell-trait-keeps-ryan-clark- out-of-denver-playoff-game?urn=nfl,wp15160