Ch. 25 Special Considerations in Athletes

Objectives• Explain how climate affects athletic performance. • Describe the difference between heat exhaustion and

heatstroke. • Explain the five ways the body loses heat. • Describe how to treat hypothermia and hyperthermia. • Explain how different skin conditions are exacerbated by

athletics. • Explain the effects of diabetes and how it can be managed, • Explain how epilepsy affects the body. • Explain what a systemic reaction to an insect bite is. • Describe the female athlete triad.

Heat Stress

• Cannot maintain homeostasis– hypothalamus

• Hyperthermia-general name for heat related illness

• 80% of heat lost through the skin

Heat Index

• Indicates risk associated with outdoor exercise– Air Temperature– Relative Humidity

• Heat index is calculated for conditions in the shade

• As relative humidity increases, it is harder for your body to cool through evaporation

Heat Index

Dehydration

• Urine is dark yellow• Decreased endurance• Decreased max oxygen

uptake• Disorientation• Irritability• Rapid pulse

Heat Cramps

• First stage of heat illness• Believed to be caused by dehydration and

electrolyte loss• Usually starts in calf but can affect quads,

hamstrings, abs• Treat with ice, passive stretching, and

consumption of fluids

Heat Syncope

• Fainting• Body attempts to cool

by dilating blood vessels in the skin

• Decreases blood to the brain

• Treat with drinking fluids

Heat Exhaustion

• Near total body collapse• S/S: skin cool, moist, and pale; weakness,

dizziness, and nausea• Rapid breathing; weak and rapid pulse• Move athlete to shade, apply cool, wet cloths• Fan athlete and give fluids• Athlete are more likely to suffer from heat

exhaustion after initial episode

Heat Stroke

• CALL 911!!• Body’s thermoregulatory system has failed• S/S: hot, dry, red skin; strong and rapid pulse;

mental confusion or unconsciousness• Move athlete to cooler environment• Use cold bath or apply ice to armpits, groin,

neck• Remove all excessive clothing

Methods of Heat Loss

• Respiration: heat lost through exhalation• Evaporation: occurs through sweating• Conduction: temperature difference between

two surfaces; ex. Sitting on the cold ground• Radiation: heat transfer by infrared rays; will

lose heat when body is warmer than environment and vice versa

• Convection: heat loss through air currents

Wind Chill

Hypothermia

• Occurs when body heat is lost faster than it can be replaced

• Blood will move to the core leaving skin and extremities to cool rapidly

• S/S: shivering, slurred speech, numbness in hands and feet

• Unconscious when body temp reaches 85°

Hypothermia

• Move person inside• Remove wet, cold clothing and replace with

warm, dry clothing• Do not try to rapidly warm the body with hot

bath or electric blankets---may cause cardiac arrest!

• Offer warm towel, warm liquids, food

Frostbite

• When skin is exposed to temperatures under 32°F

• Usually occurs in fingers, toes, earlobes, chin, nose, cheeks

• Frostnip: pins and needles sensation• 2nd stage: blistering may occur, ice crystals

form• 3rd stage: blood vessels, muscles frozen

Frostbite

• Move indoors• Apply warm towels• Do not use hot water

Aleah’s Feet

Skin Conditions

• Plantar Warts• Tinea Pedis• Jogger’s Nipples

Diabetes

• Body does not produce or properly use insulin• Insulin is a hormone needed to make cells

absorb sugar, which is converted into energy• High blood sugar can cause damage to eyes,

kidneys, nerves, and heart• Usually a genetic disorder• 17 million people in the U.S– 6 million are unaware they have the disease

Types of Diabetes

• Type 1 (Juvenile diabetes)– Body fails to produce insulin– Use insulin injections– Plan meals, exercise, check blood sugar

• Type 2 (adult onset diabetes)– Strongly genetic but lifestyle choices are major risk

factor, such as excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure, poor diet

Diabetic Emergencies

• Insulin reaction-too much insulin in the body– Not enough sugar in the blood– Dizziness, weakness, headache, hunger– Give person sugar

• Diabetic coma-too much sugar in the blood– Develop over days– Confusion, thirst, dehydration, sweet/fruity breath– Seek medical help

Seizure Disorders

• 5-7% of U.S. population will suffer a seizure– 1% has epilepsy

• Simple partial seizure-jerking in one part of the body

• Tonic-clonic seizure (grand mal)-sudden fall followed by muscle jerks

• Make sure person seizing is safe, keep airway open

Insect Bites and Stings

• Local reaction-pain, swelling

• Systemic or allergic reaction-nausea, vomiting, wheezing

• Anaphylaxis- treat with Epi Pen ASAP, call 911