Manage Temperature - Heat

This is also a major topic that needs more attention, especially with all the heat this summer.

 

 

Hot Weather:   The most obvious is to avoid it whenever possible. Then, dress lightly. Then, drink water, use the "Water Trick" before going outside or doing things in the heat. Use all the tricks to avoid dizziness if you have to stand - otherwise - sit! If you know you will be outside or in the heat and have time, be sure to load up on your fluids and salt in the days before hand.

 

 

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Getting Hot During Physical Activity

It is common during physical activity for the body to heat up. This is a normal reaction. For people with orthostatic intolerance, the body can have more of a problem adjusting its temperature. You can get hot faster and take longer to cool off. This can limit how long you are physically active, for example how long you are able to ride the recumbent bike.

 

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If you start to feel thirsty, dry lips, wishing you could jump into a cold pool - you need to get more liquids in now! And eat salt - chips, pretzels, french fries. If you are desperate, try a salt packet from a fast-food restaurant!

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Put something cold on the outside of your body to cool it off:

 

If you have to go outside or after you do your activity, use what you have around. Something cold on the top of the head or back of the neck helps keep things a little cooler. We have used soda cans, cold water bottles and the ice packs for coolers and for sprained ankles. Sandwich bags of ice would work too.

The fastest cooling comes from putting something cold on the chest or on the abdomen. That cools the blood in the center of the body, where most of it is! If you lie down, pull your knees up to your chest, most of your blood will be in the chest/abdomen. Putting something cold on the stomach will cool you fast. Just do it in short bursts to give your body time to adjust.

Drink cool liquids. In some Middle Eastern countries, instead of drinking cold drinks, they drink warm liquids. Try liquids of different temperatures - slightly warm, cool and colder to see what works best for you.

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Even if you are really hot, be careful not to do a lot of cooling on your chest/stomach and drinking really cold things. You can bring your temperature down really far and have to start warming up again.

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Garments that help cool you down - hats, scarves, vests and more

 

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