Editorial

Tempers flare along with temperatures

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Listen in on the police scanner, and you can tell tempers are beginning to climb with the temperatures.

We've noticed the phenomenon for years, but scientists say there are real reasons we get a little edgy on those hot summer days.

As your body temperature increases, your heart rate goes up and your blood pressure rises as your body tries to cool itself off.

At the same time, you may feel yourself drained and sluggish, which can lead to aggressive behavior when confronted with some sort of conflict.

And, if you're dehydrated as little as 1.5 percent of your body's normal water volume, studies show you can have difficulty concentrating and get a headache, making you more tense and anxious.

The popularity of caffeinated drinks like iced coffee doesn't help, since caffeine acts as a diuretic and can cause irritability and anxiety.

Things are not as difficult as they were years ago in the pre-air conditioning days, but heat still kills hundreds of people each year -- 7,415 heat-related deaths from 1999 to 2010 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It's of special concern in areas with a large elderly population, as people 65 and older are at high risk for heat-related illnesses.

Fans are available through a Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska program, call (308) 345-1187, but in case of extreme heat, don't rely strictly on fans; find somewhere cooler to be during the hottest parts of the day.

Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink.

Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.

Don't use the stove or oven to cook; try the microwave or outdoor grill.

Even young healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.

Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

If you participate on a sports team that practices during hot weather, have workouts and practices earlier or later in the day when temperatures are cooler.

Keep track of your teammates and seek medical care immediately if they have symptoms of heat-related illness.

Besides keeping ourselves and others safe, let's do our best to be good neighbors, shutting off the fireworks early and keeping loud parties and barking dogs under control.

A little caution, kindness and common sense will help make the hot summer season a little more pleasant.

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