Stay Out of the Kitchen

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

HSI e-Alert - Stay Out of the Kitchen

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 06:40:00 -0400

HSI e-Alert - Stay Out of the Kitchen

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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July 18, 2005

 

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

When the daily high temperatures hover around 90 degrees Fahrenheit

for a few days in a row, you know what to do: Bring on the British

thermal units (BTUs) and keep 'em coming.

 

But we can't always stay indoors, camped out in front of an air

conditioning vent. So if you do have reason to spend an extended

period outside in the heat and suddenly feel nauseous or disoriented,

it's time to take IMMEDIATE steps to cool your body because a heat

stroke can be just as dangerous as an ischemic stroke. And don't buy

that line that only older people are vulnerable - a heat stroke

doesn't discriminate by age.

 

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Think it's hot? Here's hot...

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Last month, some areas of India experienced consecutive daytime highs

well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, easily qualifying the summer of

2005 as one of the hottest ever on the Indian sub-continent. The worst

part is the toll taken by heat stroke and dehydration: Official

reports put the number of deaths at about 200, but the actual count

may be quite a bit higher.

 

As tragic as that is, it's not as bad as the Chicago heat wave of 1995

in which more than 600 people died over a period of nine days. The

true severity of that weather event is put into perspective by the low

temperatures: Over one two-day stretch the low didn't dip below 89

degrees. How rare is that? Meteorologists say there's less than a 1

percent chance of it ever happening again.

 

Most of us will never have to endure a heat wave like the recent one

in India or the Chicago grilling of a decade ago. But a 1998 study

that used data gathered from the Chicago heat wave reveals that the

effects of heat stroke can have long-term consequences that sometimes

turn deadly.

 

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Delayed reaction

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Researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center followed 58

subjects chosen from more than 3,000 patients with heat-related

conditions who were admitted to Chicago area hospitals between July 12

and July 20, 1995. All 58 subjects experienced symptoms of near-fatal

heat stroke. Each was interviewed at the time of their discharge from

the hospital, with a follow up interview scheduled one year later.

 

Almost a full quarter of the subjects died within the year; most of

them within the first three months. All of the remaining survivors

suffered some amount of brain and nervous system impairment.

Approximately half were diagnosed with kidney problems and blood

clots, while 10 percent of the group experienced malfunction of the

lungs due to inflammation. After taking into account each subject's

health conditions before hospitalization, all of these side effects

were judged to be a direct result of heat stroke.

 

Perhaps the most significant finding was that age was not a factor

among the subjects who died, in spite of the fact that the elderly are

generally at greater risk of suffering heat stroke. Subjects ranged in

age from 25 to 95, with the average age of the group being around 67.

 

The study also recognized the fact that because of overcrowded

conditions in all of the participating hospitals during this crisis,

the immediate care - which is critical with heat stroke - was not as

comprehensive as it should have been, underlining how important it is

to quickly seek medical attention when the first signs of heat stroke

occur.

 

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Cell support

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You probably already know the basic advice for avoiding heat-related

health problems: Limit direct sun exposure, eat light meals, drink

plenty of water, avoid dehydrating beverages such as alcohol and

coffee, and wear light clothing.

 

Beyond that good advice it's useful to know these signs of heat

exhaustion and heat stroke: Skin may become flushed accompanied by

headache, nausea, disorientation and heavy sweating. As the body

temperature rises the skin will become hot and dry and sweating will

stop. As soon as these symptoms appear the victim must be cooled

immediately, either with air conditioning, fans, or with lukewarm

water. Cold water should not be used because it may cause shivering

which raises body temperature.

 

To further avoid heat-related problems, add a little fruit juice

containing vitamin C to your water. This will increase your level of

antioxidants that can help protect cells and muscles from dehydration

damage.

 

Replacing electrolytes that are lost when you sweat is a primary

concern also. Electrolytes are electrically charged ions that your

cells need to carry electrical impulses to other cells to maintain

muscle and nerve control. In most heat related situations you won't

need to worry about electrolytes if you're getting enough water. But

if you begin to feel weak from dehydration you should look for a

beverage containing sodium, potassium and magnesium, all of which can

help replenish electrolytes. Sports drinks usually contain these

minerals, but they also typically contain sugar and flavorings. So if

you must resort to a sports drink, it's a good idea to dilute it with

water.

 

Most importantly, you simply can't neglect your body's hydration

cycle. Optimize conditions that allow sweat to evaporate while

constantly replacing the fluids lost through sweating.

 

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....and another thing

 

I've never had a glass of watermelon juice, and to be honest, it

doesn't sound all that appealing, but for serious juicers this is a

beverage that can hit the spot in more ways than one.

 

In previous e-Alerts I've told you about the healthy benefits of

consuming foods that contain high concentrations of two key

carotenoids: lycopene and beta-carotene. Besides providing an

excellent source of antioxidants, these carotenoids support immune

function, vision health, and may help prevent certain types of cancer.

And because carotenoids provide plants with colorful pigments, fruits

and vegetables are the best dietary sources.

 

Watermelon is one of the few foods that deliver both lycopene and

beta-carotene.

 

A 2003 study from the USDA revealed that the juice from three cups of

diced watermelon, taken daily, may result in blood serum lycopene and

beta-carotene concentrations that are five times higher than in people

with diets that are low in the two carotenoids.

 

The study also showed that a daily intake of more than 3 cups of

watermelon didn't increase the concentrations. So you don't need to

drink a gallon of watermelon juice to enjoy the positive effects.

 

Although the study used watermelon juice, I don't think it's too much

of a stretch to suppose that eating a couple of large slices of

watermelon would help raise lycopene and beta-carotene levels as well.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

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