FROM THE OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES

 

As you get older, your body becomes less able to respond to long exposure to heat; therefore, it is important to take action to avoid the severe health problems caused by hot weather. To help reduce extreme heat risks, the Ocean County Office of Senior Services offers the following safety tips:

 

• Keep heat outside and cool air inside. Close any register that may allow heat inside. windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. This can reduce the heat from entering the house by as much as 80 percent.

• Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools the body.

• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.

• Drink plenty of fluids, even if you do not feel thirsty. Water is the safest liquid to drink during emergencies. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heat effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which actually dehydrates the body.

• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

• Dress in loose fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Lightweight, light colored clothing reflects heat/sunlight & helps maintain normal body temperature.

• Protect your face and head by wearing a wide brimmed hat.

• Slow down; High-risk individuals should stay in cool places. Get plenty of rest to allow your natural “cooling system” to work.

 

If you have symptoms including headache, nausea, and fatigue after exposure to heat, you probably have some measure of heat-related illness. If you experience any of these symptoms consult a doctor.

 

MORE ON BEATING THE HEAT THIS SUMMER ...

Water may be the most overlooked nutrient in the American diet. Lack of water can lead to dehydration. The first sign of dehydration is usually thirst, but many older adults havea diminished sense of thirst and may be seriously dehydrated before they experience this warning.

 

Early signs of dehydration include:

Fatigue, loss of appetite, flushed skin, heat intolerance, light-headedness, dark-colored urine and dry cough.

 

Signs of severe dehydration includes:

Rapid and weak pulse, cold hands and feet, difficulty swallowing, clumsiness, dim vision, muscle spasms, and even coma. Dehydration is a serious medical condition that often requires hospitalization.

 

Water is essential to good health. It makes up to 70% of our muscles, 75% of our brains and over 50% of older adult’s bodies. It helps your body to:

• Regulate body temperature

• Lubricate joints

• Lessen the burden on the kidneys and liver by flushing out waste products

• Carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells

• Prevents constipation

• Protects organs and tissues

• Dissolves nutrients to make them accessible to the body

 

Most people need about eight cups of water per day.
You get water from other fluids like milk, juice, decaffeinated drinks, and the foods you eat. The best food sources of water are fruits and vegetables. While eating fruits, vegetable, and other foods can provide 1/3 to 1/2 of your daily water needs, be sure to drink plenty of water. Make aplan to drink water at regular intervals throughout the day – don’t get caught without it!