Heat stroke isn't cool...

[Bird]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Yep, those sports drinks are funny things. The first time I tasted Gatorade, I didn't like it. And I still wouldn't give you a nickel for the taste of that stuff when I'm in the air-conditioned house or during cool weather. But when I'm working outside in the heat, some days I drink a gallon of it, and enjoy every drop. And when the grandkids come to visit, they drink it all up; all day no matter what they're doing. They'll drink the Gatorade instead of the Cokes and 7-Up that's in the same refrigerator.

Bird

 

[MarkV]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Mark,

Sure am glad to see you back with us! When I was a bunch younger, I was a distance runner in college and had a go with heat stroke one year. This was before the sport drinks of today and we used water and salt tabs. They are just not enough when you are one of those people who isn't going to stop if everyone else is still going. Thirty years later I can remember every moment of that experience. I still spend to much time in our southern heat as a contractor although I sure watch for the signs these days.

I'm sure Mark will agree, use lots of sports drinks and if you ever find yourself getting cramps at night or sweating less during the day, get to the doctor. Heat stroke hurts and takes a long time to bounce back from.

MarkV

 

[richh]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Any time your health gos to hell its just no fun at all! I had broke my leg in 97 had a plate and screws put in it to hold the bones. 30 days latter had blood clots go in to my lungs, all most killed me was in ICU for a week, no fun at all. Sure glad your ok/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif We gota have some one around here to find all this cool stuf we can put on or tractors/w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif
Rich

 

[JimBinMI]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

MarkC,

Though I'm really busy right now, finished 2nd day of school today, I definitely noticed your absence...was about to start a topic on it! Really glad you're back on track now and on the road to recovery! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

 

[MChalkley]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Thanks for all the supportive comments, guys!

Question for the brain trust: Does anyone know of a "sports drink" mix that isn't so high in carbohydrates/sugar? I'd love to find something that contains the electrolytes (sodium, potasium, magnesium) but with fewer calories. Obviously, I need to drink larger quantities of fluids in hot weather, but if half of the liquid I drank during the days I got heat stroke had been a typical sports drink, I'd have consumed almost 2,000 calories, just from that stuff! So, I'm looking for something with the electrolytes, but fewer calories, and I'd be grateful if anyone could steer me in the right direction.

Mark

 

[scruffy]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Mark, that sounds like a great idea! A sugarless sports drink. I'm diabetic, so I haven't really looked at the sports drinks in the last 4 or 5 years, but if something like that is out there, it may be located in the 'sugarless' diabetic section of your supermarket. Don't blink though, because such areas are rather small and you might miss it!

 

[TomG]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

There are some products that are packets of powder. The powder is just electrolyte salts and is intended to treat severe dysentery (not as severe as cholera, which requires IV treatment). My X carried some of packets when travelling for international development field visits. I don't know where she got the product.

Incidentally, my present wife commented that the nutritionists and physiologists teaching in her recent course work all said that sports drinks with sugar in them should be avoided. They advocated just plain water, but then they probably weren't thinking in terms of somebody who worked under the conditions that you did.

 

[Bird]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

I guess you can forget the Powerade then. I bought some of the blue stuff (Mountain Blast) in bottles, then my wife started buying the powdered stuff and mixing it up for me, but it says it has 70 calories per serving (8 oz. glass); sugars 15g.

Bird

 

[MarkV]

Re: Heat stroke isn\'t cool...

Dr. Rch,

Thanks for all the pro info. If calorie intake is not an issue, what are your feelings about sports drinks? Do you think they offer what is needed for us who have high exertion work situations in hot humid conditions?