AU professor offers tips to help beat the heat

Saturday marked the official beginning of summer and one Auburn University professor is offering his advice on how to beat the heat.

Dr. David Pascoe, who studies human thermoregulation as a distinguished professor of exercise physiology in the Department of Kinesiology, says it’s important to know how to deal with the heat not just for the sake of comfort, but for safety as well. He said a difference of a few degrees in the core body temperature can greatly affect humans and place them at risk.

The most vulnerable time is the first three days of extreme heat exposure, Pascoe said, because that’s when the body is adapting to the high temperatures. It is most susceptible to a heat-related illness at this time, and that can have long-lasting effects.

“Once you have had a heat incident, your body is less capable to handle heat in the future,” he said.

Symptoms such as headache, nausea, a disoriented feeling, cessation of sweating and skin that feels hot to the touch are signs that indicate heat has become a problem to one’s body, Pascoe said.

Individuals with these symptoms should heed the warning and seek shelter and medical attention.

To avoid any heat-related health risks, he recommends:

- Wearing breathable, light-weight, loose-fitting clothing.

- Avoid the use of fabric softeners when caring for hot-climate clothing. “Fabric softeners leave a residue on the fabric that reduces the ability to absorb and transport the moisture,” Pascoe said.

- Some experts do not support the notion that wearing light colored clothing will keep you cooler than dark colored clothing, but Pascoe said dark colors do absorb more heat and result in a higher surface temperature. A warmer fabric surface can actually reduce the transfer of heat through clothing, he said.

- Stay hydrated during extreme heat. “As little as 2 percent dehydration can influence motor skills and performance,” Pascoe said. “Individuals who are dehydrated are also more prone to temperature increases and heat-related problems.”

Water is an excellent way to rehydrate, but Pascoe said sports drinks and even caffeinated beverages are effective too. “The key is to make sure you are consuming fluids,” he said. It’s also important to drink as much fluid as you lose in perspiration.