Why could someone not handle the heat?

[bdog]

We have an 8 man crew and work outside. I have a guy that has worked with me nearly ten years. He is about 30 years old and looking at him he appears to be in the best physical shape of anyone on our crew. Not overweight at all and muscular. I have worked side by side with him over the years many times doing strenuous work in 110 degree heat. Never seemed to phase him in the past.

It seems over the last couple years he can take the heat less and less. It has got really bad lately. Temps are 90-95 degrees and he is unable to do anything. He is drinking plenty of water and works like an ox all morning but about noon when it starts getting warm he becomes more or less useless. Right now we are not even doing work that could be remotely considered strenuous he can't even stand around in the heat and I would not even really call it heat. Around here it isn't hot unless it is over 100. Today I was comfortable and did not even drink a lot of water or think it was hot and he looked like he was about to pass out.

I know this guy well enough to know he is not lazy or trying to dodge work so I was just wondering what might be wrong with someone that would cause this?

He plans to visit a doctor when we get home but we are on the road on a job and won't be back for a week or so.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Heart..

 

[creekbend]

Perhaps Diabetes? Just a thought.

 

[CanuckPT]

? Thyroid

 

[Stihlrunner]

I was in my mid 20's when I suffered heat stroke fighting a structure fire during a heat wave. Since then, I have become more and more susceptible to heat exhaustion. It may have only taken a few times of overdoing it in the heat, not enough hydration, etc. to take a toll on his body.

Also he might be on some medication that makes him more susceptible to the heat.

 

[slow wrench]

When i work out in the heat my 54 yr old body needs all the help it can get.Avoid a big lunch,it makes your heart work harder digesting food.You should also pay attention to your breathing,labored breathing is the first sign that your blood is getting to hot.I carry ice packs in the cooler,take 5 and hold a ice pack on your juggler vein,paramedics do this for heat stroke victums.I have a fence job coming up,and it will probably be mid 90s. No lunch,lots of short breaks and light snacks.

 

[Baby Grand]

Salt? The foreman used to hand out salt tablets to everyone on really hot days when I worked at a lumber yard about a million years ago.

 

[Tig]

? Thyroid

That's what had me out of gas last summer. Under control now so we'll see how it plays out.
Get this guy to a doctor, something's not right.

 

[Western]

I have been the same way since I was a kid, even used to put my comforter in moms deep freeze before bed, thats gospel. At 17, I passed out at my after school job while on a riding mower, thankfully I worked in maintenance at a hospital. I can tolerate some heat, but not by choice.

I have been tested for everything except if I have oil in my blood:laughing:

It could be anything from a auto immune disease, heart issues, high blood pressure, even some brain tumors near the hypothalamus. Or he could be like me and just be "heat sensitive". Thyroid disease, usually will make you lethargic no matter what the temps, but lab test will probably test those levels too.

I agree, he needs to see a doctor as mentioned, maybe a specialist will be ordered too. That way they can start ruling things in or out. For me it is a way of life, I work nights and have since college. More manageable now since I have dealt with it all my life.

 

[sea2summit]

Also he might be on some medication that makes him more susceptible to the heat.

This was my first thought, don't know anything about him but many legal or non-legal medications would have that side affect. Also energy drinks in excess would have that affect.

 

[sixdogs]

He probably should not work until he is checked out. Might be a heart blockage or other heart issue. If it is, and you never know, it can have a sudden chain of events.

 

[texasjohn]

Glad you are concerned...rightfully so...problem is real...won't go away with bed rest or lower temps or more water. You are being a good friend!

Please get him to medical attention immediately...likely will take some time to run tests and identify true problem.

I know the attitude he probly has...doesn't want to let the team down...just gut it thru and live with it. Please help him get over this reluctance and get him to medical attention...It's what friends do for a friend.

A generic answer to your question is as follows, overly simplified.

The body, as an engine, ruins on blood. Blood feeds muscles, brain with nutrients and oxygen in an extremely complex balance of chemistry and hydraulics. If things are not right, some part of the body is starved, cannot keep going. Outside manifestation is physical weakness, listlessness...fainting or collapse when sufficiently severe.

Heat and hard physical labor put stress on the body which tries to respond to the situation and keep things going via increased heart rate, breathing, etc. If the hydraulics are weak (heart), or chemistry is out of balance (thyroid), or ???, then the body feels "tired", can't keep up....

You are correct, at his age, condition, experience and work ethic, he should be able to stay up with you and others experiencing similar body stresses, given normal precautions everyone else is using.

Thanks for being a friend to him!

 

[tcartwri]

Booze will take your legs out. Anyone who works on a crew away from home for long periods knows the lifestyle.

 

[sailorman]

Low sodium levels will do that . There is a simple blood test for that . If he is drinking lots of water and has low sodium level, that will through his system all out of out of balance .

 

[dmccarty]

If one is working in the heat and loosing minerals, those minerals need to be replaced. More water ain't gonna replace those minerals. One of the key minerals is potassium. If you don't have enough potassium you will be in a world of hurt. Years ago I was standing in the sun and heat wearing a uniform. After 5-6 hours I was loosing it even though I was drinking lots of water. I took a break to get something to eat and found a banana. Eating that banana was like flicking the on switch. I was back to normal ASAP. Banana's are high in potassium as are must nuts and some fruits. When working out in the heat I eat lots of nuts, fruits, or energy bars that are high in minerals.

If you don't have enough potassium, you can get muscle cramps. For me that means the cramps are in the legs. I have not had cramps in years since I made sure I was eating plenty of food with potassium.

Sports drinks make me sick so I don't drink them. Too much water seems to unbalance my system as well so I have to eat and drink water.

Way back in 2000, we had a TBNer Doctor who had some posts in a discussion about heat stroke. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/1384-heat-stroke-isnt-cool-2.html. He posted a recipe for a sports drink at post number 19 in the thread.

An electrolytic replenishment fluid such as Pedialyte can easily be made. The key ingredient is Morton's Lyte Salt, a 50-50 mix of KCl and NaCl, mixed with Karo syrup[dextrose/glucose] and sodium bicarbonate with H2O.One specific formula per liter is one teaspoon Morton's Lite Salt, 1/2 teaspoon NaHCO3 and 6 teaspoons of Karo syrup. People with less than perfect kidneys [kidneys get rid of excess potassium] or on certain drugs,usually for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure, such as 'ace inhibitors'[type 1 or 2] such as captopril(Capoten),Vasotec,Diovan or if already on KCl supplement should consult their physician.Ace inhibitors inherently cause the kidneys to save potassium and are often combined with diuretics that excrete K and Na in the urine so that the net effect is a wash and ,therefore,a potassium suppelment is not needed assuming the kidney function is good or, at least stable. Lemonade spiked with just a teaspoon of Morton's Lite Salt per liter supplies enough of the essential K & Na.People already on a diuretic such as hydrochlorthiazide or furosemide[Lasix] are dehydrated by definition and sweating and heavy work [each exhaled breath is 100% saturated and can add-up to several liters of fluid loss when the respiratory rate increases.] When you add in the loss from sweat, urine, stool to the above "insensible" loss this can add up to several liters a day. One good rule is to drink enough fluid so you have pale urine with some K and Na as dicuussed above. Assuming you have good kidneys and certain drugs as described are taken in consideration the kidneys can deal with excess free water[ i.e. water with a little less osmolarity than 0.9%[normal saline] by excreting the extra water and retainig the appropiate electrolytes so that you don't become overly diluted,nor concentratd with a proper total volume.

Dr. RCH, went out to say in post number 25,

NaHCO3 is sodium bicarbonate-Arm & Hammer baking soda- that stuff kids mix with acetic acid[vinager] and launch a million rockets.
Mg or magnesium shouldn't be a problem for the short haul, a day or two, assuming a varied diet is part of the equation.
Diabetes mellitus is a whole other matter, varying from minor to major adjustments. Diabetes is like a triangle with calories on one point, exercise on the second point and insulin[or pills] on the third one- you change one factor and you got to adjust the other two in order to keep the blood glucose in a normal range. This can be relatively easy in maturity-onset(type 1-over 30)with lots of exceptions and usually more difficult in juvenile diabetes,also with lots of exceptions.
As discussed Karo syrup(sugar/glucose/dextrose/sucrose, pretty much the same)can be left out if you don't need the calories. Lightly sweetened(artificially or with sugar) lemonade fortified with a little Morton Lyte Salt, NaHCO3 drank a little bit often so that the urine is alway pale is the way to go. A 7-11 52 ounce insulated container sounds like just the ticket- like 3 or 4 or even more a day. Kidneys can deal with excess-they just pee it out. What they can't deal with is shortage.

I printed out these two posts years ago and keep the recipe wrapped around a container of Morton's Lite Salt. :laughing::laughing::laughing: I don't use the syrup as he mentioned in the latter post because I surely do not need the extra calories and I think the huge amount of sugar in sports drinks is what makes me sick.

The OP's coworker may have other health issues but RCH's recipe sure is CHEAP compared to sports drinks and it can be adjusted to one's taste. I bought the Morton Lite salt over 7 years ago and I have many years left of use in that container.

Later,
Dan

 

[Jstpssng]

When i work out in the heat my 54 yr old body needs all the help it can get.Avoid a big lunch,it makes your heart work harder digesting food.You should also pay attention to your breathing,labored breathing is the first sign that your blood is getting to hot.I carry ice packs in the cooler,take 5 and hold a ice pack on your juggler vein,paramedics do this for heat stroke victums.I have a fence job coming up,and it will probably be mid 90s. No lunch,lots of short breaks and light snacks.

Ditto here, I' m the same age and every year it gets harder and harder to keep up with the 20 somethings I work with.
All good suggestions given, if you can get him to see a Dr you will have done him a big favor. Expanding on the thyroid suggestion an overactive thyroid will cause him to run hot and also make his heart work harder... and is about the same as running a bad thermostat on your tractor.

 

[Jstpssng]

If one is working in the heat and loosing minerals, those minerals need to be replaced. More water ain't gonna replace those minerals. One of the key minerals is potassium. If you don't have enough potassium you will be in a world of hurt. Years ago I was standing in the sun and heat wearing a uniform. After 5-6 hours I was loosing it even though I was drinking lots of water. I took a break to get something to eat and found a banana. Eating that banana was like flicking the on switch. I was back to normal ASAP. Banana's are high in potassium as are must nuts and some fruits. When working out in the heat I eat lots of nuts, fruits, or energy bars that are high in minerals.

If you don't have enough potassium, you can get muscle cramps. For me that means the cramps are in the legs. I have not had cramps in years since I made sure I was eating plenty of food with potassium.

Sports drinks make me sick so I don't drink them. Too much water seems to unbalance my system as well so I have to eat and drink water.

Way back in 2000, we had a TBNer Doctor who had some posts in a discussion about heat stroke. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/1384-heat-stroke-isnt-cool-2.html. He posted a recipe for a sports drink at post number 19 in the thread.



Dr. RCH, went out to say in post number 25,

I printed out these two posts years ago and keep the recipe wrapped around a container of Morton's Lite Salt. :laughing::laughing::laughing: I don't use the syrup as he mentioned in the latter post because I surely do not need the extra calories and I think the huge amount of sugar in sports drinks is what makes me sick.

The OP's coworker may have other health issues but RCH's recipe sure is CHEAP compared to sports drinks and it can be adjusted to one's taste. I bought the Morton Lite salt over 7 years ago and I have many years left of use in that container.

Later,
Dan

I'll have to try one of those. On a hot day I drink over 2 gallons of liquid, at least have used to be Gatorade but I don't take care of all that sugar the way I used to. (And the extra 40 lbs it gave me sure doesn't help me in the heat.)

Excellant and timely post for me... I have a long list of things to do this weekend but instead I'm staying inside recovering from working in yesterday's 85+ degree heat

 

[dmccarty]

I'll have to try one of those. On a hot day I drink over 2 gallons of liquid, at least have used to be Gatorade but I don't take care of all that sugar the way I used to. (And the extra 40 lbs it gave me sure doesn't help me in the heat.)

Excellant and timely post for me... I have a long list of things to do this weekend but instead I'm staying inside recovering from working in yesterday's 85+ degree heat

I just reread part of the thread I posted earlier. Kinda interesting to read what I wrote *** 13 *** years ago! :shocked::laughing::laughing::laughing: Funny thing is that I still do much of what I posted way back when. There were a few posters who tried RCH's recipe and reported that it worked well for them. I know it has worked well for me.

Later,
Dan

 

[jerrybob]

Lots of possibilities listed above......the key one.......get him to a doctor now before something really serious happens. :2cents:

 

[Jstpssng]

I just reread part of the thread I posted earlier. Kinda interesting to read what I wrote *** 13 *** years ago! :shocked::laughing::laughing::laughing: Funny thing is that I still do much of what I posted way back when. There were a few posters who tried RCH's recipe and reported that it worked well for them. I know it has worked well for me.

Later,
Dan

I just got done reading your link... it was quite an eye-opener for me. The water he was drinking amout to 2 gallons on the first day and >3 gallons on the second.
Since I've stopped drinking sports drinks I've been prone to hellacious leg cramps after working in the heat. Until reading that thread I never thought that the two might go hand in hand.