Page 129 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2025

When summer hits the Gulf Coast, many people want to get outside to enjoy their favorite activities and show off their new bronzed tans. However, too much sun can become a nightmare of pain, possibly even death.
“People can experience various sun-related hazards if they spend a lot of time outdoors,” explains Dr. Christopher Blomberg, a family medicine specialist with
Memorial Health System. “These include
sunburn, dehydration, heat exposure, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Everyone in Mississippi knows about sunburns. Sunburn comes from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Since the burns come from invisible radiation, people can get bad sunburns even on cloudy days. Usually, people can cover up and put on sunscreen, hopefully before burning themselves. Skin turns bright red and hot, possibly painful, depending upon the severity. Fortunately, symptoms usually go away in a few days.
to hyperthermia, an abnormally high body temperature. Heat exhaustion comes when the body temperature reaches 100 to 104 degrees. More severe cases of sun exposure could turn into heat stroke, the most severe form of hyperthermia. This occurs
In severe cases, sunshine causes skin blistering and swelling. Despite the heat, some people experience chills, fever or nausea. They become dehydrated. Their mouths become dry and they urinate less frequently.
“Take frequent breaks and stay properly hydrated to help prevent problems related to summer heat and sun exposure,” Dr. Blomberg advises. “People get fatigued and might get dizzy
when changing positions from sitting or lying down to standing. Find shaded areas or stay inside to avoid the hottest parts
of the day. Wear light-colored clothing. Get into a cooled, shaded environment and lower the body
temperature with a fan or ice packs. Drink plenty of fluids, either water or sports drinks
with electrolytes.”
Too much sun exposure can lead
when the body include muscle
temperature exceeds 104 degrees. Symptoms cramps, weakness and excessive sweating. Hyperthermia can lead to irrational behavior, fainting and confusion, possibly resulting in death.
“Heat exhaustion is more about the cardiovascular system having difficulty keeping up,” Dr. Blomberg clarifies. “Heat stroke involves the central nervous system, the brain. Heat stroke is the most dangerous form and needs emergency care. If not treated, it can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The longer that treatment is delayed increases in seriousness of complications. Death can take place.”
Whenever in the sun stay hydrated. Take frequent breaks and find shady areas if possible.
Avoid the hottest times of the day. Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades the head.
“If symptoms are so severe that the patient is unable to cooperate or tolerate oral intake, that person may require treatment in a hospital,” Dr. Blomberg recommends. “It would likely involve rehydration with an IV to administer fluids and ice packs to bring down body temperature. Sometimes medications are required depending on the severity of symptoms.”
The most sensitive to overheating, young children would most likely first and most severely suffer from these conditions. Never leave small children unattended in a car. During a Gulf Coast summer, the inside of a car turns into an oven.
For more information, see the National Institutes of Health website at www.nih.gov or the American Academy of Family Physicians at www.aafp.org.
Dr. Christopher Blomberg.
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