HERE COMES THE SUN…AND SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS IF YOU AREN’T CAREFUL

By Bardia Anvar, M.D.

George Harrison had a hit with “Here Comes The Sun” but the health dangers that come with excessive exposure to the sun too often have people flooding into hospital emergency rooms and urgent care facilities year after year.  Most incidents could be prevented if people would simply adhere to some basics common sense.  We all know that wearing hats and plenty of sunscreen are key preventive measures.  The following are some lesser known but still common sun-related conditions, their symptoms and the measures you can take to prevent them:

·      HEATSTROKE – Also called sunstroke, this is the most serious form of heat injury and it occurs when one’s body temp is greater than 105 degrees thus compromising the central nervous system.  Symptoms include nausea, headaches, lack of sweating, muscle weakness or cramps, seizures, disorientation, and, in severe cases, loss of consciousness, coma and death.

o   PREVENTION -- Limit your exposure to the sun and oven-like environments (e.g., saunas, hot tubs, sweat tents, etc).  Also, wear loose fitting, lightweight clothes and drink lots of water or sports drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde to help replace lost electrolytes, sodium, potassium and magnesium.

·      DEHYDRATION – If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated which can bring on dizziness, fatigue and nausea.  In severe cases, though, it can it lead to complications like brain swelling, seizures, low blood volume shock leading to oxygen deprivation, kidney failure, coma and death. 

o   PREVENTION – Drink plenty of water or sports drinks regularly before you get thirsty.  Also, eat more fruits and veggies that have a high water content e.g., watermelon, oranges, lettuce, etc.

·      HEAT EXHAUSTION – Though less severe than heatstroke, heat exhaustion can lead to the more serious condition if not promptly treated. It is caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures, made worse when combined with high humidity. Athletes are particularly prone to the condition whose symptoms include heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, fatigue, headache and nausea.

o   PREVENTION – Remain indoors on particularly hot days even to run or complete your workouts or, if you must be outside, wait until early morning or near nightfall.  Stay hydrated too.  Also, if you are on certain medications you may be more susceptible to heat exhaustion so consult with your doctor.

·      SUN POISONING – Though not a true “poisoning,” the term refers to a severe sunburn from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. Symptoms include redness, blistering, pain and swelling.  Severe cases cause harsh skin rashes or hives.  For immediate relief, get out of the sun and take a cool (not cold) bath, hydrate, apply aloe gel and take a pain reliever like ibuprofen.

o   PREVENTION – Limit your sun exposure especially between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30; and wear sunglasses, a hat and protective clothing.

A visit to the ER or urgent care facility can be expensive and if you take the proper precautions, you can stay healthy during the summer months.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Board-certified general surgeon Bardia Anvar, M.D. is founder of Valley Urgent Care in Northridge, Calif. and medical director of Skilled Wound Care in West Los Angeles.  He is the author of “Mastery of Skin Wound and Ostomy Care,” the definitive tome on the subject and is a frequent speaker before his colleagues in the worlds of urgent care and wound care.  He majored in neuroscience and received his Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA, received his M.D. from Mt Sinai School Of Medicine in New York City and completed his general residency training at UC Irvine. For more information, visit Sfvalleyrurgentcare.com.