GARDENING AND YOUR HEALTH
It’s mid-July, and it’s hot, humid, and dry. Summer weather can adversely affect gardeners who work outside caring for their plants. To understand how to reduce or minimize heat stress or heat-related illnesses, we must first understand what causes heat stress and when it is most likely to occur. Heat stress occurs when our body cannot get rid of excess body heat by its typical exhaustion methods—either from sweat evaporation or increased blood circulation to the skin surface, where body heat can escape through radiation. As I write this blog, I do not think I have ever experienced heat stress. I spend much time outdoors, regardless of the heat, so I am lucky.
The four primary environmental conditions that affect heat stress are:
- Air temperature
- Humidity
- Wind velocity
- Radiant heat
Combine these factors with individual factors:
- Age
- Gender
- Weight
- Physical and medical conditions
With all these conditions, you can predict how well a person might hold up on a hot, humid day.
SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS
HEAT ILLNESS
Signs of heat illness are dizziness, fatigue, heat cramps, heat rash, and just exhaustion.
HEAT CRAMPS
Symptoms of heat cramps can include painful arm, leg, or stomach muscle spasms, thirst, and heavy sweating.
HEAT RASH
Signs can be tiny, blister-like red skin spots, usually on body areas covered by clothes. This is why you should wear loose clothes when outdoors in the heat.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Heat exhaustion can be caused by heat illness, loss of coordination, heavy sweating, dry mouth, or pale skin. It can also be caused by reduced blood circulation and flow to the brain.
HEAT STROKE
It can occur suddenly and is considered life-threatening. Signs of heat stroke can be dizziness, headaches, irrational behavior, rapid breathing, nausea, and vomiting. Someone suffering from heat stroke can be in a life-or-death situation, and the first response should always be a 911 phone call.
STAY COOL
In a nutshell, be careful in this heat. Take care of yourself and others around you. Let’s be smart and safe. We can make it through all this heat and still enjoy being outdoors. I know here at the garden center, we encourage drinking a lot of water and encouraging the staff to take some breaks in the air conditioning to get out of the heat.
PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS & BE “COOL” ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!