How do I work in the heat without getting so sick?
Posted by admin on Nov 7, 2009
I have some work I need to do on some property and have found myself doing physical labor in the heat. However I have to stop frequently because I literally get sick after doing hard physical labor in the heat for extended periods.
I get muscle cramps, stomach ache and nausea, head ache, heart pounding, and my face gets real red.
Today I tried drinking half a gallon of water but I am still nauseated and feel weak out there. I thought it might be blood pressure so I cut down on salt intake but that hasn’t helped.
I see road crews and construction workers out working in the heat, and they just look tan and sweaty. I turn into a dizzy purple faced basket case. Might there be some underlying medical condition I’m not aware of? Is there something I can do, by changing my diet or taking herbs or something?
I have work out there I need to finish. What measures can I take so I don’t get so sick working in the heat?
Take it slow at first, drink plenty of water, take plenty of breaks, eventually you’ll acclimate.
Drink alot of water and or gatorade
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Have you also noticed the road crews leaning on their shovels alot? You have to take frequent breaks for water when you’re working in the heat. I’d say stop and rest 10 minutes for every 20 worked. And be sure to drink water on each break.
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DRINK LOTS OF water cover your skin Drink lots of water and GO to your MD he might have the answer
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Take it slow at first, drink plenty of water, take plenty of breaks, eventually you’ll acclimate.
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okay, back on the salt you need the salt that you are sweating out of your body. if you take a look at your clothes when you take then off you will notiice a whitish area on them. that’s salt you’re sweating out. also you need to keep drinking something like gatoraid. this adds certain things back to your system that water can’t. make sure you wear white colour clothing and make sure they are lose and comfortable. if this continues you might need to start working early in the morning rest through the hottest time of the day and then start again towards the end of the day when it is the coolest. you may even need to see if your doctor can help you out if the problem continues.
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Drink lots of water and take brakes, wear hats, stay in the shade(or put something up to give you shade) and wear SPF of 15 or higher. However if tips like this don’t help, see a doctor. You may be getting something like sun poisoning, or if you have low blood pressure (I have that too) you want more salt, not less.
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The best thing you can do is start working as soon as the sun comes up. Your body will acclimate better that way.
Drink plenty of water and take breaks when you feel you need one.
Try not to work outside between the hours of 11am and 4pm, but don’t go inside and sit under the A/C during those hours, either. Take a nap in the shade or read a book, eat lunch, or do something else that requires you to be in a warm environment, but not in the direct sun.
Finish up in the late afternoon/evening when the sun is not directly overhead.
Good luck and listen to your body. Don’t over do it!
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Many years of working in the heat.
STOP working in the hot sun. I’m just like you. It makes me physically ill. I’m always saying to my husband. "How can those construction workers stand it?!!" I suggest you do whatever you have to do to work when the sun goes down till the sun comes up. Never between 11am-5pm. If that’s not possible, you have to get a job that’ll let you work between 5-6pm and 10am. btw, are you on elavil or another medication that says to stay out of the sun? I’m on Elavil, and it says that on the bottle. But I’ve gotten heat exhaustion before I was on Elavil. Some body’s just can’t take it. And you have to listen to your body, and your body is definitely talking to you!! Good luck, hon. Remember, your health comes first.
-L Do you live in Las Vegas like me? It’s 116!!
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Construction workers will often start their shift at 5 am and end by 3 in the afternoon in hot weather. Try to work outside of peak heat times. Pace yourself. Wear lightweight, breathable clothing that protects you from the sun. Stop to drink frequently, and be sure that you’ve had plenty of water to drink before you start the work.
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used to get like that to when i worked with my father in construction.
i made sure i took a vitamen, had small breakfast like a bagel or a bowl of cereal and brought a cooler with a gallon gatorade and gallon of water for my dad and myself, i worked like 6:40 in the mornign till 1, then ate lunch and periodically drank during the times of 11-1 then took a 45 minute break eating a small lunch like a sandwhich, making sure i had like 8oz. a water right before, then did light work like picking up untill 3, then did the hard still 3-6(yeha i worked like 12 hours.) but made sure i drank periodically.
key componets-
drink cool liquids like water and gatorade periodically
eat a light breakfast and adequate lunch
if you must work in broad daylight, do your hard work before hand and the less work during the daylight.(time management)
wear light colored comforable clothing
sunscreen!-it might be sun poisoning your getting
get under shade often when u take a drink
well, i hope i helped!
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