The heat is on!!!

Exercising in the hot weather, for me personally I love training in the hot weather, the sun puts me in a good mood for training, my body feels flexible, I know it’s going to be a hard workout and very beneficial. However, exercising in the hot weather can dangerous.

Exercising in hot weather puts extra strain on your body and If you’re not sensible and don't take care when exercising in the heat, you can risk serious illness.
Exercise, the air temperature and humidity can all increase your core body temperature. To help cool itself, our bodies circulate more blood through your skin. This leaves less blood for your muscles, which will increase your heart rate. If the humidity also is high, your body faces added stress because sweat doesn't readily evaporate from your skin. That increases our core temperature even higher.

So what can we do to reduce the risks of exercising in the hot weather?

• Dress appropriately. Lightweight, loose fitting clothing helps sweat evaporate and keeps you cooler. Avoid dark colours, which can absorb heat. White Doboks are ideal training and if it gets very hot replace your Dobok top with our club T-Shirts.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Help your body to sweat and cool down by remaining hydrated with water or a sports drink. Sports drinks can replace the sodium, chloride and potassium you lose through sweating. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink fluids.

• Know your fitness level. Don’t overdo it, be extra cautious when training in the hot weather. Your body may have a lower tolerance to the heat. Reduce your exercise intensity and take frequent breaks.
• Outside Training. If we train outside you should take extra precautions. Wear a hat and sun lotion. Sunburn decreases your body's ability to cool itself and increases the risk of skin cancer.

 
Pay attention to your bodies warning signs

When you are exercising during the hot weather watch out for signs and symptoms of heat related illness. If you ignore these symptoms, your condition can worsen, resulting in a medical emergency. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Dizziness or feeling light headed
• Confusion
• Irritability
• Muscle cramps
• Feeling unwell, nausea or vomiting
• Weakness or fatigue
• Headache
• Excessive sweating

If you develop any of these symptoms, you need to lower your body temperature and get hydrated immediately. Stop exercising and get out of the heat.
To help lower your body temperature, remove extra clothing and/ or sparring equipment. Placing cool wet towels or ice packs on your neck, forehead and under your arms can help. Drink fluids such as water or a sports drink. If you don't feel better within about 20 minutes, seek medical assistance.
 
We can avoid heat related illnesses by being sensible and taking some basic precautions. So when the sun is out and the temperature rises we can keep kicking.