Disorders Associated with Heat Exposure
Exertional Heat Illness spans the spectrum of muscle cramps to life threatening heat stroke. Symptoms can be made worse with the development of rhabdomyolysis and athletes with an underlying condition of sickle cell trait. Often inexperienced athletes will over hydrate as a precaution with unintended consequences of exercise associated hyponatremia. All these conditions have serious risks associated. This chapter will review epidemiology, physiology, signs and symptoms and key factors sports providers should be aware of to treat these conditions immediately.
This online training module on Disorders Associated with Heat Exposure is used for the completion of your ERA Recertification. Please make sure you have registered for an ERA Recertification Course HERE, before attempting to complete this module.
This online training module consists of a:
- Exertional Heat Stroke and Rhabdomyolysis
- Sickle Cell Trait and the Athlete
- Exercise Associated Hyponatremia (EAH)
Objectives:
After completing this session, the learner will:
- Discuss the risk factors for the development of a heat illness.
- Understand the seriousness of EHI through a review of the epidemiology
- Describe the thermoregulation process in humans
- Identify the differences in clinical features between exercise associated muscle cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and exertional heat stroke.
- Describe the treatment methods for exercise associated muscle cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and exertional heat stroke.
- Understand the risk factors associated with EHI
- Describe the pathophysiology of exertional rhabdomyolysis and how it relates to the clinical signs and symptoms.
- Discuss the risk stratification utilized with exertional rhabdomyolysis and how it relates to return to physical activity.
- Recognize the differences between EHS and Exertional Collapse Assoicated with Sickle Cell Trait (ECAST)
- Discuss current return to play guidelines post exertional heat stroke and risk factors for these athletes
- Understand the NATA recommendations for prevention of EHI
- Discuss the risk factors for the development of a heat illness as a general topic
- Describe the pathogenesis of exercise associated hyponatremia
- List the risk factors for development of EAH
- Compare the symptoms of EAH and EHI
- Discuss prevention strategies for exercise associated hyponatremia.