Aging in Summer Pt. 1: Heat Stroke & Dehydration

Happy Summer Everyone!

It’s a beautiful time of year, in the northern hemisphere, bees buzz, birds chirp, and in our time zone the sun is out until eight-o-clock. It’s not all fun and games however, as that gorgeous sunshine brings higher temperatures that go on for longer into the evening. There are absolutely zero reasons to avoid enjoying the outdoor summer fun as we age, but like all things it does get more complicated than just going out and playing like when we were kids.

The biggest worry elder adults face is heat stroke. There is a long list of possible “causes” of heat stroke, but ultimately it’s all in the name, its anything that makes you too hot.

• Over-exertion in warm weather

• Prolonged time in warm weather

Several things can make heat stroke worse, once you are already not feeling well

• Drinking Alcohol

• Becoming dehydrated

• Wearing warm clothing

  
  

Now if you are an outdoor person, those list almost read as “doing anything fun”…in warm weather. To which I respond “Hold your heat loving horses!” Just because aging makes it easier to get heat stroke, and heat stroke makes fun things riskier, it does not mean that elder adults have to change their entire lifestyle. It’s a matter of being smarter about it, and drinking water.

• Drink water

• Wear loose clothing

• DRINK WATER

• Try to relax during the hotter parts of the day

• Find shadier places

• DRINK WATER

Now if any of you read the Mayo Clinic page I heavily stole from for this post, you will know I added some very subtle suggestions that outdoor loving folks should drink more water. If you, like me, are nursing on an oversized soft drink there is a very good chance you are dehydrated. To be completely fair to soda lovers like me, even if you are a soda hater there is a strong possibility you are dehydrated, there are studies that suggest 75% of adults in the US are. Dehydration is as serious as it is common, while making you sick on its own, it can also increase your overall risk of getting sick from several other conditions, so, in conclusion, have a great summer, and drink some water.

DRINK WATER

-Love Rose