European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Dangers of heat and humidity by Gayle Young United press International two Miles Inlo a recent Central pal Marathon a woman racer began running circles around her Lellow competitors herself some runners thought she was on drugs but race Ohio gals in medially realized her erratic behaviour was actually due to the Day s scaring Sun and oppressive humidity. The runner who was suf Lefing from heat stroke was rushed to nearby St. Luke a Roosevelt Hospital where she was strapped to a cardiac Monitor and immersed in Cool water said of. Stephan Lynn director of the Hospital s emergency services. confusion lha inability to make a decision All afe signs of heat stroke Lynn said recently. Tho brain literally becomes Loo hot to function doctors say they have perceived a slight increase in he number of people suffering heal sir Okrand heat exhaustion Over the past Tew years and attribute he upswing to a now Lound love for outdoor exercise. Perhaps it s because we re near the Park but to see by discs and runners in Here All the time Lynn said. According o doctors heat and humidity can provoke a variety of illnesses the most serious being Hea stroke. Heat stroke is a very distinct entity thai lends to gel confused with lesser problems said or. Samuel m. Fox Iii professor of cardiology at Georgetown University in Washington. It can cause permanent damage it can cause under Normal conditions the brain is Able to regulate body temperature much like an internal thermostat when it is cold outside the brain tells the body to shiver and increase Ach Vity. The heart slows As blood vessels constrict. When in is hot the brain tells the body to slow Down and sweat. Tho Hearl pumps taster As blood vessels dilate sweat is very important Lynn said. Ii Coats the skin with a dim of liquid then evaporates drawing Hoal Asil goes " when the air 15 of remely humid Porps Iraklion fails to evaporate and Iho Cooling mechanism fails humid Lily is As important As heat when you Are considering heat related illnesses Lynn said As the body slowly overheats Muscles begin to cramp because of an imbalance of electrolytes the salts the body needs to function properly and which Are lost through sweat doctors said those cramps Are familiar to any Lynn said. You have to Stow Down and take in some liquids preferably liquids that have in if the body is allowed to continue to overheat heat exhaustion follows Lynn said. Body temperature rises to 100 or 101 degrees and the production of Seal diminishes Tho heart snarls to beat laser. A person suffering heat exhaustion May also seem slightly confused and feel nauseated doctors said when this happens victims should try to take a coot Bali or Shower and drink plenty of liquids if they Are nol near a source of Walcer they should head for Ino Shade doctors said. It will take a while to Cool Down Lynn said in the final stage Hoat stroke body temperature can reach 106 degrees Doc Lor said. Skin feels dry and hoi and the Hearl races. The Dilfer nce Between heat exhaustion and heal stroke is Hal in stroke the person thinks he s just Tine even though to is behaving strangely Fox said. It s an emergency the brain stops functioning properly and cells begin to die of rapidly the brain is being Lynn said since minutes count emergency room doctors immerse Hoat stroke victims in tubs of ice Waler or flush their systems with Cool Waler in an attempt to bring body Lemper lures Down rapidly. There is a significant mortality rate Aboul s percent Lynn said. Victims can suffer permanent brain damage including Iho inability to think clearly As Well As kidney exercising outdoors in hot summer weather can Lead to heat exhaustion and stroke. Slowing Down and drinking liquids help keep the body Cool. Damage doctors said. They Are also usually More susceptible to heat related problems in the future athletes exercising outdoors Are not Iho Only people who suffer from heal stroke according to doctors. They said older people pregnant women and children Are susceptible to heat problems As Are the obese and people who Lako Anli histamines and the tranquil Izer thorazine. Which interfere Wilh the body s Abi tily to regulate romper nature. A person can be overcome by the Hoal in an in air conditioned apartment Lynn said. It s probably More widespread than is boys Woik As pros Lules. Their average age being 15 up to 10 percent Olleen age girls sul Ler severe Cal ing disorders such As anorexia the import said ii estimated thai 5,000 youths under the age of 19 kill themselves each year and another 50.000 a Templ to do so motor vehicle accidents continue to be a leading cause of death among adolescents followed by drownings. Sues poisonings and tails Sammons Calls the Seal Islic depressing " but by the Pio lems he added health of Licals can begin to solve them the Ama paper pointed to 3 number of programs designed to decrease Leen drug abuse and pregnancy that have been successful m different areas of the country what has been missing Herel Olore is a program thai brings All these efforts to Bear on the Jine population in a coif maled in said it called for preventive programs assigned to Ruivo teens sell Confidence counselling Anil Access to health care services before they get Mlo trouble we re la Lomg Aboul an impressionable Sammons Caid we want to make an impression. A Good one " drug alcohol and tobacco Art damaging the health of America teen. Tuesday july 14. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 17
