Summer Heat Can Exacerbate Chronic Health Conditions

Summer is usually a time for barbequing, gardening and lounging at the pool or beach. The last few months, however, have brought such oppressive heat and intense storms that many Marylanders have been unable to enjoy those favorite summer activities.

Summer weather also can have deleterious effects on health. Indeed, current weather conditions are presenting serious health consequences for many Maryland residents, especially those dealing with chronic diseases and conditions.

Heat-related illness is the broad category of conditions that result from the body?s adverse response to high temperatures. While there are a number of very basic methods to avoid heat-related illness, several factors can complicate the picture.

Many chronic diseases are exacerbated by heat and sun exposure, while others require devices that rely on electricity, a luxury not to be taken for granted when summer storms threaten.

MS: Worsening of Symptoms

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, is one such chronic condition. Melissa Slizewski, director of public policy & strategic relationships for the Maryland Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, noted that ?many people with MS experience a temporary worsening of their symptoms in hot or humid weather. In these conditions, blurred vision often accompanies general fatigue and weakness. This experience, known as Uhthoff?s sign, can result from the slightest increase in core body temperature ? as little as one-quarter of a degree. As such, summer heat can cause serious concerns for those with MS.?

Preventive measures, such as wearing loose-fitting clothes and staying in air conditioning when possible, are crucial to avoiding increases in body temperature. When in the heat, it is best to stay in the shade, drink plenty of ice water and use cooling compresses when one starts to feel warm.

Melissa Ward, a Frederick County resident living with MS, uses these strategies to beat the heat. Even in today?s fast-paced world, she urges people to take breaks.

?It?s hard to stop what you are doing, sometimes,? she said. ?But when you feel like the heat is slowing you down, it?s very important to just go with it. Slow down, get in the air conditioning, drink a glass of water and take a break. You will thank yourself for that later.?

Lupus: Sun Sensitivity

In addition to extreme temperatures, direct sun exposure during the hot summer months is always a concern. Above and beyond sunburn, ultraviolet (UV) rays can pose threats to people with various chronic conditions.

The autoimmune disease lupus, for example, frequently causes sensitivity to sunlight. Specifically in cutaneous lupus, patients often experience skin irritations from photosensitivity that can affect their emotional and physical well-being. Furthermore, some lupus medications aggravate photosensitivity and increase the likelihood of sunburn.

To stay safe during the summer, The Lupus Foundation of America, DC/MD/VA Chapter, offers its constituents regular reminders, such as avoiding the hottest hours of the day and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, along with some lesser-known advice, such as wearing special SPF clothing, maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D through supplements and diet, and using sun protection laundry-aid.

ALS: Assistive Machine Outages

After the June 29 thunderstorm that tore through Maryland and left hundreds of thousands without power, few local residents need to be reminded that summer heat and humidity often bring severe storms. The loss of electricity can have serious implications for those dealing with chronic conditions.

For people with debilitating diseases, continued mobility often relies on equipment such as power chairs and stair glides. People with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the progressive neurodegenerative disease often referred to as Lou Gehrig?s Disease, frequently depend on mobility equipment, along with speech generating devices and a host of respiratory machines such as cough assist or other breathing devices.

The DC/MD/VA Chapter of the ALS Association published several pages of disaster preparedness information in its August newsletter to patients and families. Some information it shared included creating a support network of people available at a moment?s notice; listing one?s power-driven equipment and devising contingency plans for managing without it; and maintaining a disaster supply kit of nonperishable food, bottled water and important health documents.

Good Advice for All

By no means are the chronic conditions cited here the only ones exacerbated by sun exposure and extreme heat. The health implications of heat are truly widespread, for people with chronic conditions as well as those in perfect health.

People?s Community Health Centers is attuned to the pulse of local Maryland health, operating seven health centers in Maryland with the mission of providing comprehensive, high quality health care to all who seek it.

?People?s Community Health Centers has seen an increase in heat-related illnesses in the sweltering summer heat,? said Dr. Lelin Chao, chief medical officer. ?I encourage our medical staff to counsel our patients in a kind of common-sense medicine: the importance of taking breaks during the day if working outside; drinking plenty of water; and if folks begin to feel dizzy or experience heavy sweating, to find a cool place to help bring their body temperature back to normal before continuing.?

For specialized advice and resources for the above conditions, contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MD Chapter; Lupus Foundation of America, DC/MD/VA Chapter; and the ALS Association, DC/MD/VA Chapter.

This article was provided by the Community Health Charities of Maryland. Visit the organization?s web site, www.maryland.healthcharities.org, for links to 52 local health organizations that provide education, research and health and medical services for individuals and families throughout Maryland.

Source: http://www.bizmonthly.com/summer-heat-can-exacerbate-chronic-health-conditions/

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