Excessive heat brings health concerns, warns MU doctor as index climbs above 100 degrees
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mid-Missouri will see the heat index reach climb between 104-108 degrees on Thursday and Friday. As these temperatures continue to rise so will the number of heat-related illnesses.
Being exposed to these high temperatures can cause damage when body temperatures rise to 104 degrees or higher. It can occur as quickly as 30 minutes.
“Definitely globally we are seeing more heat-related deaths as temperatures rise,” Dr. Christopher Sampson, an emergency physician at MU Health, told ABC 17 News.
In 2021 alone, 190 people in the U.S. died from excessive heat. That was the leading cause of death in the United States in terms of weather-related statistics. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in a Wednesday press release that 22 Missouri residents died from heat-related illnesses in 2022. The Associated Press has reported at least 13 people have died in Texas due to the recent heat wave.
People with high blood pressure, people who work or exercise outside, and people over the age of 65 are most at risk. But it can happen to anyone.
“People think they are not at risk for it, that they are in perfect health and really it can affect anybody,” Sampson said. “It’s a combination of factors -- it's not just your general health status. So it’s also just like what the environment is you’re working in or exercising in. We see people who are extremely healthy suffer the effects of the heat.”
Heat stroke is one of the three leading causes of death in sports activities. It can also be deadly for young children.
Health Research Funding found that 70% of heat stroke deaths occur in children younger than age 2. Three-out-of-10 of those incidents occur when a child enters a hot location and cannot escape on their own without the caregiver’s knowledge such as getting locked inside a car.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Profuse sweating
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Fatigue or weakness
- Decreased urination
- Clammy skin
Gale Blomenkamp of the Boone County Fire Protection District offers these tips to help prevent heat exhaustion:
- Increase your fluid intake regardless of your physical activity. During heavy exercise or work you should drink at least 16-32 ounces of cool fluids per hour.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. A wide-brimmed hat will provide shade and keep your head cool.
- Wear sunscreen. Sunburns are painful and can cause loss of bodily fluids. SPF 15 or higher applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplied according to directions can offer protection.
- Pace yourself. The more you exert in the heat the more heat your body generates. Be aware of how you feel and stop frequently for breaks in a cool, shaded area.
- If you do not need to be outside don’t go. Stay inside in the air-conditioning or in front of a fan. If you don’t have air-conditioning and the temperature is above 90 degrees, a fan will not prevent heat injuries.
- Schedule outside activities around the heat of the day. Start earlier or wait until later in the day to do strenuous activities or work.
- Don’t be alone. If you must carry on activities outside in the heat do so with a partner. You should monitor each other during the activity for signs of a heat injury.
- Use common sense. Stay away from hot foods/drinks and heavy meals that will drive up your body temperature. Avoid alcoholic beverages. They will depress the central nervous system and inhibit your ability to protect yourself from heat injuries.
The DHSS recommends residents to check in on neighbors, friends and family who are elderly or chronically ill. To report a senior citizen or an adult with disabilities who is in need of assistance due to the heat, the DHSS recommends calling the state's toll-free abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-392-0210, or make a report online.
