SATURDAY, July 17, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- Football is a great fall sport; the trouble is that football practice often starts during the hottest part of summer.
When the sport's physical demands and layers of protective padding are combined with a heat index above 90 degrees, even the roughest, toughest players can find themselves upended by a heat-related illness.
The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the effects of temperature, explained Dr. Robert Gotlin, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. "We call it the 80/80 Club, which means the danger is highest when both the temperature and humidity are above 80."
In August, when football drills usually begin, players' ability to sweat and the ability of sweat to evaporate are hampered by increased moisture in the air. This causes players' body temperatures to rise, sometimes to dangerous levels. It's not uncommon for them to experience a heat-related illness during practice sessions or a game under 80/80 conditions.
Gotlin describes the signs of heat-related illnesses as progressive, starting with muscle weakness or cramps, followed by headache, dizziness and nausea that rapidly develop into delirium, confusion and collapse. Players who experience cramps should seek shade, remove excess clothing (including their football jerseys and pads), and slowly sip water or other fluids that don't contain caffeine.
The symptoms of heat stroke -- including hot, dry skin without sweating, confusion or loss of consciousness, vomiting or difficulty breathing -- require immediate, emergency medical care.
To prevent heat reactions, doctors recommend athletes drink several glasses of water before participating in physical activities, even if they don't feel thirsty. Pre-season conditioning and taking many breaks when it's hot is also recommended, as is scheduling practices and games during cooler times of day.
More information
Learn more about heat-related problems and their prevention from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
