subject: The Elderly And Florida's Heat And Humidity [print this page] Florida pain management doctors know all to well that high heat and humidity can be a real killer, especially to the elderly. Mugginess coupled with high temperatures can harm anyone because heat and humidity work together to slow the evaporation of sweat from you body, compromising its natural ability to cool itself.
This is especially exacerbated in the elderly because an aging body is less able to react to heat efficiently.
Florida pain clinics also report that the elderly have a harder time coping with high heat and humidity because a chronic medical condition such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, etc. -- all more common in the elderly than in young people -- can change the way a body normally responds to heat. Couple that with the fact that some medications can impair the body's ability to respond to heat well and it's easy to see why it's the elderly -- who often take several prescription medications for different ailments and illnesses -- who often have such a hard time of it when the temperature and humidity rise.
Florida pain management doctors will recommend that elderly persons stay inside where it's cool and curtail any unnecessary physical activity. Everyone, especially the elderly, should drink at least a liter of water a day.
Florida pain clinic professionals know that should you experience any or all of the following, you should seek emergency medical help immediately:
* a rapid pulse
* a throbbing headache
* nausea
* dizziness
* hot and dry skin that doesn't sweat
* an extremely high body temperature (anything over 103 degrees).
These are symptoms of heat stroke, a very serious condition that can lead to death or permanent disability very quickly -- in as little as 10 or 15 minutes.
Neighbors can go a long way to helping elderly Florida residents stay safe by visiting them at least twice a day during days of high heat and humidity and watch them for the signs of heat stroke.
