Heat stroke is a life-threatening illness that occurs when exposure to extreme heat triggers a failure in your body's temperature control mechanisms. In the absence of proper control, your body can't cool itself down without some form of outside intervention. Football players and other athletes are susceptible to a form of the disorder called exertional heat stroke.
The Basics
Classic heat stroke develops over several days as prolonged heat exposure takes its toll on your body. Individuals most susceptible to this include infants and young children, obese people, the elderly or inactive people without access to air conditioning or adequate fluids and those who are sick or take certain types of medication. Exertional heat stroke develops within hours, and can occur in athletes or anyone else who engages in intense physical effort in hot environments. The underlying cause for this condition is the sudden onset of a cooling demand that exceeds your body's internal regulatory capacities.
Football-Related Factors, Risks
Between 1995 and 2009, 31 high school football players and eight college players died from heat stroke, according to a study detailed in the University of North Carolina's "Survey of Football Injury Research Annual Report." One professional player also died during this time frame. Dr. William O. Roberts, a member of the Minnesota State High School League's Sports Advisory Committee, said contributing factors to heat stroke-related football deaths included the heat and humidity of the local practice environment and the lack of sufficient acclimation to heat-related and humidity-related body stresses. He also cited wearing clothing that worsens acclimation problems, the relatively large size of the affected players and continued participation in practice after initial signs of physical distress occurred.
Minimizing Risks
Dr. Roberts, who is on staff of the Department of Family Practice and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School, also listed steps that football coaches and players can take to minimize heat stroke risk. They include reducing the intensity and duration of practices when heat and humidity rise to certain levels, incorporating adequate amounts of rest into practice sessions and providing proper fluids and salt replacements. He also suggested allowing players to practice in shorts and T-shirts until they acclimate to their surroundings and identifying players with increased heat stroke risks. Coaches and players must also learn to recognize early symptoms of heat stroke onset, including self-reported complaints of physical problems.
Considerations
Larger football players, such as offensive and defensive linemen, can generate and store relatively large amounts of body heat when compared with smaller players. In the short term, this allows them to perform longer in high heat and humidity. However, the same capacity puts them at considerably heightened risk for heat stroke. It also increases the risk for serious tissue damage once heat stroke occurs.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Extreme Heat
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Heatstroke
- "USA Today:"; In NFL Training Camps, Heatstroke Awareness Rises; Greg Mihoses; Aug. 20, 2010
- Minnesota State High School League: Death in the Heat; Can Football Heat Stroke Be Prevented?
