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Avoid
Overheating during exercise Redlands Community hospital EXPERTS offers
tips FOR ATHLETES TRAINING
REDLANDS,
Calif-- When area temperatures begin to rise, Redlands Community Hospital
physicians urge Redlands residents to take extra precautions while exercising or
working outdoors in the heat and to listen to their body’s signals.
These safety measures can help avoid potential life-treating heat
illness or dehydration, especially for those training for Run
–Through-Redlands. The event is one of the biggest running events in the
Inland Empire area, with hundreds of participants getting ready for the run. “Wear
light colored, long sleeved cotton T-shirts,” suggests Phong K. Nguyen M.D.,
medical director of emergency services at Redlands
Community Hospital. “Also have a bottle of water or a sports beverage
with them at all times. If you have a safe place, exercising after dark is
an alternative, but be sure to be as careful in the evening as you are during
the day.” Even
if you’re a well-conditioned athlete, overdoing your exercise regimen may lead
to heat cramps, fatigue, and heat exhaustion or
maybe even heatstroke. To help you maintain your health and physique this
summer, Dr. Nguyen offers simple safety tips for warmer weather: ·
Exercise
early or late, try not to exercise outdoors in the middle of the day, when the
sun is the highest and hottest. ·
Be sure to
increase your water intake. Excessive sweating
causes your body to lose fluids that need to be replaced. Don’t wait
until you feel thirsty to drink water. ·
Wear
breathable (cotton), light-colored clothing to reflect the heat ·
Exercise on
cooler surfaces like grass instead of asphalt ·
Gradually
build up your exercise routine over a couple of weeks. This will give your
body time to acclimate to the warmer weather ·
Wear
sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher ·
Avoid
alcohol and caffeinated beverages ·
Don’t
overdo it. Pay attention to your body and any distress signals it may be
sending.
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