We’re having a heat wave …..
The last couple of days have been pretty severe with heat and humidity, and it always makes me think about signs and symptoms of heat related illness. It’s important to pay attention to things that drop blood pressure, since Parkinson’s tends to cause lower BP in the first place. Hypotension would be defined by a lower than normal BP reading along with signs of distress:
- fast heart rate
- heavy sweating
- dizzy, faint feeling
- reduced urination
- dry mouth.
It’s important to hydrate carefully during the “dog days” of summer when it’s all too easy to get low on fluids and then feel sick. A lot of PD patients are also on medicines for other conditions (hypertension is a common one) and diuretic meds may exaggerate the tendency to drop the BP. Monitor yourself if you feel a bit out of balance to make sure that you don’t get dehydrated in the first place. Unfortunately, nausea and vomiting can make things worse once dehydration sets in.
Bottom line: be aware of what may happen as the heat index climbs and keep track of time spent in the heat. If you feel like you may be drying out, sip fluids, get some moisture on the skin (evaporation is a great heat reducer) and sit down if you feel dizzy or weak. It’s much better to be proactive when the weather is hazardous rather than trying to catch up once you’re dried up!
Ossu!
Sensei Steve