Say Goodbye to Heatstroke and Other Summer Problems

Stittsville and Ottawa Family Dentist

Winter is finally over and summer is here! It’s time for the beach, BBQ, gardening and spending time outdoors.  Here are some common heat-related problems and survival tips, from the experts at Web MD:
  • Food-borne illnesses. The problem is more common in hot weather because it’s easier for the bacteria that cause disease to multiply. So how can you prevent it? By following 4 basic food prep rules: cook, clean, chill, and separate. Use a thermometer so you know your food is properly cooked, wash your hands with soap and water, use a cooler when you’re outside and keep utensils and dishes that you use for meat separate. The warning signs of food poisoning are vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. If you come down with these - get to the hospital.
  • Dehydration and heatstroke. What happens is that you sweat and replace your lost electrolyte-packed body fluids with only water, so your body gets dehydrated. Then heatstroke can set in if your body temperature rises enough. So if you’re outside and sweating, you should be drinking a 50-50 mix of water and Gatorade, which has potassium. Drink a small bottle every hour. And watch for symptoms of dehydration, which vary from thirst to fatigue to headaches and nausea. If it’s heatstroke, you may be delirious or even have hallucinations. In that case, you need to get to the emergency room immediately so you can have intravenous fluids.
  • Swimmer’s ear. When you stay in the water too long, your ears shrivel up the same way your fingers get pruney. And water gets trapped in your ear canal, which then gets inflamed and infected, causing swimmer’s ear. Symptoms include ear pain and a decrease in hearing, and you can also get a fever or swollen lymph nodes. If you get it, you’ll need to see your doctor for a prescription. And to prevent it from now on - wear wax ear plugs in the water.