Dealing with Extreme Heat

Written by: on 10th August 2012
Olympic Games 2012 Tennis
Dealing with Extreme Heat

epa03317221 General view of the Wimbledon tennis courts in London, Britain, 25 July 2012. Wimbledon, home of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, will be used for the Tennis competition of the London 2012 Olympic Games. EPA/MARIUS BECKER  |

With most of the American tennis nation feeling the effects of heat waves this summer, it’s important to pay attention to details concerning heat related issues and problems. Even as I sit here, my head throbs and my thoughts are slow. This is called heat sickness. Too much exposure to high temperatures and UV rays really does scramble one’s brain! Not to mention also causing damage to our epidermis and raising the body’s internal temperature. Other symptoms you might feel are a weakness in muscle strength, muscle cramps, light-headedness, loss of balance, and fainting.

 

So what can you do when these hit hard? First, get out of the heat and into a cool dark room away from loud noise (because that’s never good for an aching head), and away from light exposure. Second, hydrate hydrate hydrate. Replenish the salts in your body, eat some fast acting carbs, have some chocolate milk, fruits offer up vital blood sugar and nutrients. Try to reestablish your body’s natural equilibrium/homeostasis – Where you feel most comfortable and stable. Ice down your body in extreme conditions. The body has to cool itself somehow and ice is the fastest way to penetrate through your burnt skin! Put the ice into bags, or better yet, towels, and lay them on your extremeties and chest. Relax during the first period of cold-shock you will likely experience, breathe deeply in threw the nose and exhale through the mouth. Allow yourself to cool down and don’t fight against your body.

 

Preventative measures against heat illness are: shade, pouring COLD water on your hats/towels during changeovers and breaks, changing into a dry clothes, and dousing your head/neck in water. Bring electrolyte pouches or drinks to the court and drink them while you play. Nibble on granola bars and bananas too. These are a few simple measures that can save your life – literally!








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.