Golfing in Arizona is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding
activities on this planet. There are over 300 courses available, offering something for everyone, from the hacker with the eighty-handicap to the most seasoned pro. These pristine courses provide a breeding ground for personal growth, group camaraderie, and countless sources of enjoyable and ever-lasting memories, but they can also be the breeding ground for a very dangerous situation - dehydration. Did I forget to mention that it can reach over 115 degrees on the course in the summer and cause one to suffer immeasurably while hacking away on their favorite course?
The unrelenting heat radiating down during the Arizona summers provide an avenue for nasty heat-related injuries. At the core of the all heat injuries is dehydration; simply put, not having the proper amount of fluids needed for one’s body to function properly. Under normal conditions the body loses about one gallon of fluid a day through sweating, breathing, and going to the bathroom; throw in a round of golf (more strenuous for some than for others) in the Arizona heat and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. When a person becomes dehydrated, he or she may become weak, dizzy, nauseous, have difficulty thinking clearly, and may produce dark and foul smelling urine. If this goes uncorrected, heat exhaustion sets in with a completely new set of problems. Now the body has lost an excessive amount of fluids, and that can cause a circulatory system collapse leading to a severe drop in blood pressure and possibly unconsciousness. Increasing fatigue, severe cramps, weakness, inability to think properly, drenching sweats, and dilated pupils are all warning signs of heat exhaustion. If that was not enough, one may begin to suffer from hyperpyrexia, a fancy way of saying sunstroke. This life threatening condition requires immediate attention. Just like hypothermia, where the body can no longer keep warm, sunstroke is when the body can no longer regulate the body’s temperature and it soars out of control and permanent brain damage or death can follow. Typically, the victim no longer is sweating, the skin is red and hot to the touch and they are acting very erratically.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps one can take to prevent these events from ever happening.
• Drink plenty of water! - This may seem like common sense, but the key here is to not only drink during the round of golf, but the day before and the day after. At least one quart per hour in hot conditions should suffice.
• Avoid alcohol and soda – Chemicals found in these two items actually cause you to lose more fluid by disrupting the body’s natural hormonal water balancing system. This includes avoidance immediately after your round (you know who you are)!
• Acclimate to the summer weather – Start spending some time outdoors to allow your body to get ready for the heat of the summer golf season.
• Pay attention to your body – Be cautious of what medical conditions you have as well as the medications that you are taking, as some of these may cause you to lose excessive fluids. If you feel thirsty, you have already waited too long.
• Wear the right clothing – Many fabrics these days provide superior wicking abilities that facilitate the body’s ability to evaporate sweat at an increased rate assisting the body in its natural cooling mechanism.
• Do not forget about your head – a broad brimmed hat made of breathable material will prevent sunburn and prevent the sun from directly hitting the head where up to 50% of heat loss occurs.
The effects of hyperthermia, just like its chilling cousin, hypothermia can be drastically reduced with a little bit of extra effort and a touch of common sense. Now get out there and have some safe fun in the sun!
Dr. Justin Ross is a Chiropractic Physician specializing in physical therapy and rehabilitation of sports injuries and pain.
Arizona Sports Chiropractic and Wellness Center4550 E. Bell Rd. • Ste. 152 Bldg. 6Phoenix, AZ 85032Cell: 602.826.8031 • Office: 602.258.9663 • Fax: 602.258.9664
