Understanding the Heat Index and Its Role on Health
As many states deal with brutal heat, there’s another factor that often gets overlooked. Days and days of temperatures in the 90s are bad. When the heat index tops 100 or even 110 degrees, it’s dangerous. You need to understand what a heat index is and how it impacts your health.
Home Health Care in Bala Cynwyd PA: Heat Index and Its Role on Health
Senior citizens are at risk in the heat. As you age, the circulatory system works more slowly. Seniors don’t sweat as much. They often feel cold, even when it’s warm for you. The body’s response to being thirsty isn’t as prominent. As a result, seniors have a higher tendency to overheat or become dehydrated. When the heat index is high, you need to protect your parents.
What is the Heat Index?
Look back at the typical winter day. It’s cold out and a wind and any moisture in the air makes it feel colder than the thermometer is reading. The same can happen in the summer.
It’s definitely warm and the thermometer shows it. Humidity impacts how hot you really feel. If it’s 90 degrees outside and the relative humidity is at 60 percent, it’s going to feel like it’s 100 degrees. There’s also the sun to add to how hot you feel. If there’s a thin layer of clouds, the heat index will be lower than it would be in full sun.
How Can Heat Impact Health?
While heat can lead to heat exhaustion and dehydration, there is also the impact it has on health conditions. When it’s hotter, the sun impacts pollutants that come from things like power plants and vehicles. This pollution stays closer to the ground in heat. If your parent has a lung condition, the air quality can make it harder to breathe.
Know the Signs of Heat Exhaustion and Dehydration
Make sure that you know what the signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration are. If your parent is falling, has a rapid pulse, seems confused or disoriented, or has dry eyes or a dry mouth, it can be dehydration.
Heat exhaustion or heat stroke presents with a fever over 103 degrees, nausea, and a rapid pulse. Dizziness, dry skin, and a headache are other signs.
You need to check on your elderly parents regularly when it’s hot. If you live too far away, make sure a sibling checks on your mom and dad. A neighbor or close family friend can also check in and make sure they’re okay.
If you do not have anyone who can pop in and check on your parents during a heatwave, call a home care agency. You can arrange to have caregivers visit each day. Caregivers can also help with meals, housekeeping, and transportation. You pick the best schedule for home care services and can increase or reduce services as needed. Call now.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING Home Health Care in Bala Cynwyd, PA, PLEASE CONTACT THE FRIENDLY STAFF AT SUMA HOME CARE.
Call today: (484) 206-4544
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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