How to Detect, Treat and Prevent Heat Sickness #CONVENIENTCARENOW

I have some great news for our New Jersey readers! Convenient Care Now by Hackensack University Health Network connects users with board-certified, licensed doctors, dietitians and psychologists for immediate and live, online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all from the comfort of your home -  so long as you reside in New Jersey (the service is only available in New Jersey for now).

Last week Maddilyn was on the soccer field when suddenly her skin became pale, her run slowed and she looked at her dad (who is also the assistant coach) with discomfort radiating from her eyes. Something clearly wasn't right. Pulling her from the field she sat on the bench and couldn't seem to cool down no matter how many ice packs he rubbed on her chest and back. We took her home in the middle of the game where she quickly recuperated in the central air. Since she was little Maddilyn has been sensitive to heat, even getting heat sickness once while being pushed in a shaded stroller during a particularly hot day at the zoo. Now that she is playing sports under the harsh Florida sun we have become particularly vigilant when it comes to detecting, treating and preventing heat sickness.

Since the symptoms had already passed it seemed pointless to schedule an office visit but I still wanted the peace of mind that comes from speaking with a health care professional. The Florida heat and humidity is an entirely different ball game than that of Michigan. As a parent, I wanted to go over her symptoms with a physician to ensure it wasn't anything more serious as well as discuss ways to treat and prevent the issue in the future. I decided to jump on Convenient Care Now for a chat with a physician.

With Convenient Care Now, you can see a doctor immediately from the comfort of my own home. That means no more traffic, waiting rooms, or rescheduling—just you, your device (smartphone, tablet or computer) and a doctor. Even better, no doctors office hours! They're available 24/7 with no appointment needed. I hopped on the computer at 7:30pm on a Tuesday evening and waited less than 5 minutes to speak to Dr Shameka Jones, a Family Physician. When was the last time that happened at a traditional doctor's office? Never!

How to Detect, Treat and Prevent Heat Sickness

Detection:

Common symptoms of Heat Sickness (or Heat Exhaustion) include muscle cramps, skin that is pale and clammy, excessive thirst, weakness, headache, the inability to cool down and loss of consciousness. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.

Treatment:

Stop physical activity. Hydrate. Get out of direct sunlight and into a cool shaded area. Cool off via cool shower, ice packs or find air conditioning.

Prevention:

There are a number of ways to prevent heat sickness. First and foremost is to stay hydrated. With children, this is easier said than done. Although we push water on her frequently throughout the day it's challenging. In addition to water, Dr Jones recommends clear sports drinks (as they have less sugar than those with coloring) and fruit infused water to make it more appetizing. Lastly, keep phsyical activity to a minimum during the hotter parts of the day. Lastly, Dr Jones warned us that heat exhaustion is something to monitor closely as it can quickly develop into heat stroke. If symptoms can not be managed or do not go away, seek an urgent care facility.

In addition to being more convenient and accessible than a trip to your local doctors office or urgent care, they're alos lower in coss. Did you know the typical in-office visit with your primary care physician runs an average of $82 for first-time patients? Convenient Care Now offers a $49 physician visit – a savings of $33! Right now, our New Jersey readers can take advantage of a free visit with a Convenient Care Now physician by using code CARENOW10.