Central and eastern Kentucky are in the midst of a heat wave, with temperatures expected to top 90 degrees through the weekend. The heat’s more than just an inconvenience for many people, though. Dr. Brian Smith, the owner of Versailles Family Medicine, said some are especially susceptible to the heat.
“Anybody over 60, 65. Anybody with, you know, chronic medical conditions, diabetes. You know, we see a lot of people that take diuretics to control their high blood pressure? When it gets really hot, they have trouble maintaining hydration.”
Smith said young children also fall into the high-risk category, particularly infants, who aren’t old enough to explain that the heat is getting the best of them. He said his clinic sees one or two people a week who were victims of heat exhaustion or heat stroke – both of which are avoidable.
“You need to take frequent water breaks, drink lots of sports drinks, you know, preferably the ones without too much sugar in them. And, you know, you need to make sure you're urinating every hour.”
Smith said urine that isn’t clear is a sign of dehydration that can lead to short-term renal failure, which can land you in the hospital – or worse.
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