Published June 19, 2012 As temperatures creep into the 90s and
beyond, dehydration and heat exhaustion while exercising become
a very real-and potentially dangerous-threat. Exhibit A: Each
year seems to generate a fresh crop of headlines about football
players of all ages collapsing during preseason practice.
Competitive athletes aren't the only ones who can experience
problems when the mercury and humidity start to peak. Even if
they're in excellent shape, weekend warriors may find themselves
suffering heat-related symptoms after a long run or even a day
of lawn mowing and yard work. 'People get out there and...do a
really hard workout,' says Scott Anderson, a certified athletic
trainer in Clearwater, Fla. 'The sensible thing is to go slow,
and work up progressively. ...A lot of people even go indoors
and cross-train if it's too hot.' Not everyone has access to a
climate-controlled gym, however. If your only option is to
exercise outdoors despite the torrid weather, you can take some
steps to avoid problems