(SHREVEPORT, Louisiana) – With summer just around the corner and temperatures already on the rise, CHRISTUS Health is stressing the importance of taking necessary precautions when venturing out into the heat.

Extreme heat can lead to health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Dr. Jean Ancelet, a family medicine physician with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Shreveport, said it’s important to know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Someone with heat exhaustion is obviously not well, but they are still responding to you,” he said. “Heat stroke, on the other hand, is a medical emergency requiring an aggressive, hospital-based response. Its appearance is more severe, too, with a patient usually becoming unresponsive or at least so confused they can’t follow instructions.”

Ancelet said a quick way to tell the difference between the two is if a patient is aware enough to be coached to drink ice water, it’s not yet heat stroke.

“But heat exhaustion is still serious, and ER evaluation and care may still be necessary to reverse the effects,” he said.

Alan Edwards, supervisor of athletic training for CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System, said athletes should constantly drink water to stay hydrated when out in the heat.

“We try to teach them to drink well before they are out there in the heat,” he said. “Gatorade and Powerade, those are also great, but stay away from caffeine and Cokes.”

Edwards said schools in Louisiana must follow a heat and humidity policy, which includes the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature.

Wet Bulb is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight and includes temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. The different levels are color-coded.

When the Wet Bulb is in the black, Edwards said the athletes aren’t allowed outside.

“And if it’s in the red, you can only be out there for an hour in T-shirts and shorts and no equipment,” he said. “You have to have 5-minute breaks every 20 minutes and there’s always water available.”

Ancelet said signs of mild to moderate dehydration in adults include feeling thirsty, a dry or sticky mouth, dry skin, decrease in urination, dark urine, headaches and muscle cramps.

Moderate to severe dehydration signs include dizziness or light headedness, irritability or confusion, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, listlessness, delirium, fainting or unconsciousness.

“We already do a poor job of drinking the recommended amount of water each day. The old rule of thumb of eight glasses of water a day is a suggestion in normal conditions, not in the extreme heat of a southern summer,” Ancelet said. “Where we live, that eight glasses a day rule is a starting point; you’ll need more if you are out in the heat.”

Those most at risk for heat-related health issues are people younger than 15 and older than 65, those who are sedentary or in poor physical condition, or who are overweight or obese, Ancelet said.

“There are also certain chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiac disease, and certain medications which also increase the risk of heat-related illness,” he said. “Patients should discuss their relative risk of heat-related-Illness with their doctor.”

Ancelet said most heat-related illnesses can be avoided. Key strategies, he said, include keeping the indoor temperature closer to the outdoor temperature to minimize the shock of going outside into extreme heat.

“Other strategies include adequate hydration, wearing loose-fitting and light-colored clothing and avoiding activities or work during extreme temperatures,” Ancelet said. “When avoidance is not possible, frequent water breaks, scheduled rest and recovery cycles and close monitoring are recommended.”