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Relief from the heat important for elderly
NILES
A nearly weeklong heat wave, with temperatures in the 90s for several days predicted to start today, can be particularly dangerous to the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.
Rising temperatures can lead to high risk factors, especially when it comes to dehydration in older adults, said Lisa Solley, chief of community relations, wellness and training for the Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc.
Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year and even more heat-related illnesses, officials said.
Eric Wilhelm, chief meteorologist for 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner, said the high temperature will be 90 degrees or higher through Sunday, with Friday likely the most uncomfortable day because of the high humidity pushing up the heat index.
“The heat index, which takes into account the temperature and the humidity, is the temperature that your body thinks it is when it’s trying to cool you off,” Wilhelm said.
“Temperatures will retreat slowly next week into the 80s, more typical mid- to late-July levels, with Monday probably the last hurrah for heat and humidity of this heat wave,” he said.
One of the reasons that extreme heat is particularly dangerous to older adults is that they are more likely to get dehydrated than younger people, partly because they lack the sensation of thirst and because of changes in the water and sodium balance that naturally occur as people age, according to the National Institute of Health.
Other factors include people having impairments or handicaps that make it difficult to be self-sufficient or communicate their needs, and many adults have chronic conditions that require medication that can cause heat-related illness, said Solley.
“We want to empower people with knowledge that helps keep them safe. Many people think they’re safe if they just stay indoors. If they do not have air conditioning and do not stay hydrated, it can become a life-or-death situation,” she said.
While too much heat is not safe for anyone, it is even riskier if people are older or have health problems, said the NIH.
It is important for people to get relief from the heat before they begin to feel confused or faint.
Older adults are encouraged to stay in air-conditioned buildings, eat regular meals, drink plenty of fluids and avoid coffee, tea and alcohol. It is important to keep fluids easily accessible for older adults at all times and these should not be consumed in large amounts, the agency said.
Another reason people 65 and older are more prone to heat stress is because they don’t adjust as well to sudden changes in temperature, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They also have more chronic health conditions that change normal body responses to heat, and they often are taking prescription medicines that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature and that inhibits perspiration. Some medical conditions that can make heat more dangerous are heart disease, respiratory disease, diabetes, mental health and alcoholism.
The CDC also urges older adults to check with their doctor if they generally limit the amount of fluid they drink or if they are on diuretics (water pills), to find out how much they should drink while the weather is hot.
For information on home energy assistance or other resources, call the Agency’s Aging and Disability Resource Center at 800-686-7367 or call 211 for 24/7 assistance.