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HWN Suggests

Debunking heat illness myths

Exertional heat illness (EHI) awareness today is far greater than anytime in history. It’s a regular part of athletic training education curriculums. Coaches are informed about the risks and dangers of EHIs at clinics, and through mandatory training in some states. Athletes themselves are constantly reminded about the importance of proper hydration and looking out for their teammates.

Despite all of this, it’s important for athletic trainers and other sports medicine professionals to understand that while knowledge of heat illness is common, not all of this knowledge is complete and accurate. Athletes, their parents and coaches often carry…

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 The Risk of Exertional Heatstroke to Young Athletes

EHS is a severe form of heat-related illness and a medical emergency that can result in brain and other organ damage, or even death in some cases. According to a 2015 article in The Journal of Applied Physiology, EHS ranks as the third leading cause of sudden death in high school athletes. EHS can occur in otherwise healthy individuals and is different from classic heatstroke, which usually affects those who are very young, elderly or have pre-existing medical conditions. Athletes and soldiers whose uniforms require heavy gear are especially vulnerable.

 When Heat Stroke Strikes, Cool First, Transport Later

And though the guidelines were written with athletes in mind, they can be applied by anyone who hopes to stay active during the summer months, the athletic trainers say. "The biggest change is the concept of cool first, transport second," says Douglas Casa of the University of Connecticut's Korey Stringer Institute.

Articles of Interest

Dangerous Myths About Exertional Heat Stroke

One such condition that seems to bear a large burden of myths is exertional heat stroke. The lay public, as well as clinicians, depend on the absence of sweating to recognize the condition. However, as I just mentioned, this is a misconception that has been purported for a long time. The vast majority of exertional heat stroke victims are profusely sweating. I think this notion may have come from classic heat stroke victims, which is a different entity than exertional heat stroke, and therefore not all of the signs and symptoms are the same.

Heat Stroke in Sports: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Heat illness can advance quickly in football players and runners, and early warning signs of heat stroke can be subtle. Yet early diagnosis and proper therapy can save lives; exertional heat stroke should be preventable.

How to Avoid Heatstroke

Heat illness itself is an omnibus term, covering “a spectrum of seven or eight different conditions,” that range from mild heat exhaustion to life-threatening heat stroke...

Is Excessive Heat And Youth Football A Dangerous Mix?

Coaches and parents would immediately pull kids from a lightning storm, yet the perception of heat as a risk is lower.

Spotting and Taming Signs of Heatstroke

Exercising outside can be one of the great pleasures of summer. But a sweaty body and racing pulse may be signaling more than your performance—it could be a sign of life-threatening heatstroke. Heatstroke can strike with scant warning, even after as little as a half hour if you are exercising hard, doctors say. Although drinking plenty of water can help, you can still get heatstroke even if you aren't dehydrated, particularly while exercising.

Resources

Current Sports Medicine Reports

Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is a medical emergency defined as life-threatening hyperthermia (core body temperature ≥ 40.5°C [105°F]) and central nervous system [CNS] dysfunction. EHS is one of the top three causes of sudden death in athletes.

Korey Stringer Institute

While exertional heat illnesses (EHI) are not always a life-threatening condition, exertional heat stroke (EHS) can lead to fatality if not recognized and treated properly. As the word heat implies, these conditions most commonly occur during the hot summer months; however, EHS can happen at any time and in the absence of high environmental temperatures.

UpToDate

Exertional heat illness (EHI) is among the leading causes of death in young athletes each year. The risk of multiorgan failure and mortality from EHS depends upon how fast it is diagnosed and rapid cooling implemented.