GIVE SAFE LIQUIDS FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS
16 July 2004 - Duke University

When someone shows signs of heat-related illness, one of the first steps is to give liquids to help keep the body hydrated. An expert cautions to avoid giving drinks with caffeine or alcohol, which could actually cause more dehydration.

Summer heat isn't just uncomfortable. It can put your body at serious risk. Early stages of heat-related illness include cramps, sun stroke and heat exhaustion, which can lead to potentially life-threatening heat stroke, when bodily functions shut down. Abhinav Chandra, an emergency room physician at Duke University Medical Center, says the first step in treating heat-related illness is to cool the body and give the right type of fluids. "One of the problems is to go out and drink iced cappuccino or a soda. Though they have the salts, they also have caffeine, and the caffeine actually works against you and makes you urinate more. As a result, you actually get more dehydrated." Likewise, Chandra cautions that alcohol interferes with cooling down the body. "Again, it works against you. The way our body neutralizes alcohol is by a chemical process that uses up water in our body. So again, it's going to dehydrate you." Chandra says prevention is the best way to avoid heat-related illness: stay hydrated with water or sports drinks, dress for the heat, eat small meals and take regular breaks. I'm Cabell Smith for MedMinute.

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