Heat Exhaustion

Several times recently I have told you about our blueberry farm. When the berries are ripe they need to be picked quickly to keep the birds from having a blueberry feast. This past Monday I went to help pick. For about 3 hours (in the middle of the day) I picked blueberries in the hot sun. The temperature this week has been in the 90’s and humidity is high. By the time I finished picking I was hotter than a pepper sprout!

I went home, took a shower and ran several errands. By night time I didn’t feel well and for the next three days all I wanted to do was sleep. I felt exhausted and if I stood up quickly my heart pounded. Today I stopped by to see my doctor and he told me I had suffered heat exhaustion and I was dehydrated.

I love summer time and going to the beach and being out doors but obviously I shouldn’t have picked berries during the heat of the day and I should have drank more water. I wish I liked water, I really do….but I have to force myself to drink it. My mother was the same way. If I drink a lot I spend most of my day visiting the ladies room, so I never drink much. That’s not smart when you are sweating like a banshee!

My doctor told me to go home, drink lots of water, rest and stay in the air conditioning. Oh, and he said I could blog (He knows I won’t stop that). I feel guilty about not helping pick berries but I can still package them and help deliver them. I’m also the media person for our farm (surprise, surprise) so I can update our farm’s Facebook page to let people know where they can get our berries. If you haven’t Liked our page yet, please hop over and say hello!

If you or someone you love has to be out in the heat, please be careful! Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are no laughing matter. I never realized how bad it could make you feel until it happened to me.

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Thirst

Less-frequent urination

Dry skin

Fatigue

Light-headedness

Dizziness

Confusion

Dry mouth and mucous membranes

Increased heart rate and breathing

In children, additional symptoms may include:

Dry mouth and tongue

No tears when crying

No wet diapers for more than three hours

Sunken abdomen, eyes, or cheeks

High fever

Listlessness

Irritability

Skin that does not flatten when pinched and released

The symptoms of dehydration may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

To learn more about health related problems related to heat please visit the John Hopkins web site.