Environmental Sicknesses Flashcards
Athletes in a high-altitude area will experience…
- increased BR
- increased HR
- increased hemoglobin in circulating blood
- increased blood alkalinity
- increased myoglobin
- dehydration
- changes in distribution of BF and cell enzyme activity
How long is the adjustment period for athletes in high-altitude areas?
2-3 weeks
Acute Mountain Sickness is experienced between which heights?
7,000-8,000 feet
Which symptoms are associated with Acute Mountain Sickness?
HA, nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance, dyspnea
- tissue disruption in brain which affects Na and K balance
- causes excess fluid retention
What is HAPE? What elevation does it occur at and what are the S&S?
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema
- 9,000-10,000 feet
- fluid retention within alveolar walls
- fluid is collected instead of absorbed
- dyspnea, cough, HA, weakness, unconsciousness
What is HACE? What is the prevalence and what are the S&S?
High Altitude Cerebral Edema
- 1% prevalence
- leads to increased intracranial pressure
- result of increased cerebral blood flow due to increased permeability of cerebral endothelium
- severe HA, mental dysfunction (hallucinations, bizarre behaviour, coma) and neurological abnormalities (loss of coordination, paralysis, cerebellar signs)
Explain Sickle Cell Reaction Trait.
- 8-10% of African Americans, most is benign
- abnormal hemoglobin molecules become deoxygenated and clump together
- Results in an abnormal red blood cell shape
- causes enlarged spleen at risk of rupturing at high altitudes
How much time must pass before resuming play after the last sound of thunder?
30 mins
What do you do if you hear thunder or see lightning?
- seek shelter (indoors or in car)
- avoid standing near tall objects, metal objects, or water
- find an area of lower elevation (valley, ditch, ravine)
- do not lie flat on the ground, crouch
What are the S&S an individual may experience when there is an increase in the ozone?
- shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, pain with deep breathing, nausea, eye irritation, fatigue, lung irritation
How can you prevent sickness from air pollution?
- participate in activity after commuter traffic has lessened
- when ambient temperatures have lowered
- when ozone levels are decreased (ozone levels rise at dawn, peak at mid day and reduce after evening rush hour)
What is the Heat Balance Equation?
S= overal heat storage M= metabolic heat production E= evaportation R= radiation C= convection K= conduction
S= M - (+- work) - E +- R +- C+- K
What factors are included in heat related illnesses?
- humidity/wind
- acclimatization
- hydration
- clothing/equipment
- intensity of activity
- age
- general health
- living/working environment
How does the body involuntarily contract muscles to produce heat?
shivering
What are the core body temperatures of Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, and Exertional Heat stroke? Which is more severe? Which occurs in cooler environments?
Heat Exhaustion - 36-40 degrees C
Heat Stroke - above 40 degrees C
Exertional Heat Stroke - above 40.5 degrees C, occurs in cooler environments
Which heat related illness is common during the first 5 days of acclimatization?
Heat syncope
What are the differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
Heat exhaustion
- core body temp - 36-40 degrees C
- allows heat loss through evaporation (sweating)
- cool clammy skin, often gray
- profuse sweating
- nausea
Heat Stroke
- core temp above 40 degrees C
- most severe
- comes after Heat Exhaustion
- no sweating, body cannot cool itself off
- thermoregulatory mechanisms are overwhelmed and stop functioning
- brain and other organs begin to fail
- can lead to seizures, coma, death
What are heat cramps?
- painful spasms that occur after periods of physical exertion
- fluid and electrolyte imbalances
- neuromuscular fatigue
What is the course of treatment for Heat Cramps?
- remove from heat
- rest
- slow passive stretching
- fluid replacement
- ice to spasms
What is the course of treatment for Heat Syncope?
- ensure ABCs
- move to shade
- lay supine or side-lying
- rehydrate once alert
- monitor vitals
What is the course of treatment for Heat Exhaustion?
- Move to cool shady place
- move as much clothing/equipment as possible
- fan the body
- apply wet towels, ice to groin, armpit, neck
- if alert - sports drink or water
- evaluate mental status
- assess vital signs
- provide O2
- NO RTP!
- EAP - if LOC, symptoms do not decrease within 30 mins, temp stays elevated
What is the course of treatment for Heat Stroke?
- activate EAP
- remove from heat
- remove clothing
- cool the body - ice packs, ice bath, water immersion
- maintain ABCs
- provide O2
- monitor vitals
- do NOT give anything orally
What core temperatures are found at Mild, Moderate, and Severe hypothermia?
Mild - 37-35 degrees C
Moderate - 34-32 degrees C
Severe - below 32 degrees C
What is the course treatment for hypothermia?
- remove from cold
- remove cold or wet clothing
- wrap in dry blankets
- handle athlete gently
- if alert - give WARM liquids to drink
- do not rub extremities
- start gradual rewarming of trunk, axilla, groin, head (rapid warming can cause cardiac arrhythmia)
Signs and symptoms of mild hypothermia?
- 37-35 degrees C
- lethargy, shivering, pallor, decreased fine motor control
- BP within normal ranges
- typically conscious
Signs and symptoms of moderate hypothermia?
- 34-32 degrees C
- no shivering, decreased gross motor control, slurred speech
- decreased BP, HR, BR, cyanosis, arrhythmia
- decreased LOC, dilated pupils
Signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia?
- below 32 degrees C
- rigidity
- bradycardia, severely depressed BR, hypotension, pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest
- Comatose
What causes Heat Syncope?
- prolonged standing, immediate cessation of activity, dehydration
- S&S - collapse/fainting
What are symptoms of chilblains (pernio), and how can you manage it?
edema
redness
blistering
burning/itching
Management - gradual warming, exercise, NO massage or heat, nifedipine for severe cases
What can happen with severe sunburns over large areas of the body?
inflammation, shock, malfunctioning of organs, and infection of sweat glands & hair follicles
