Heat Illness

Coris E, Walz S, Duncanson R, Ramirez A, Roetzheim R. Heat illness symptom index (HISI): a novel
instrument for the assessment of heat illness in athletes. Southern Medical Journal [serial online]. April
2006;99(4):340-345. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed October 11, 2011.

Population: Hypothesis: By analyzing information about the athlete and the environment that surrounds
them, I believe that heat illnesses could be prevented at an early stage than those athletes who are not
analyzed beforehand. Heatstroke is distinguished as the third leading cause of death among athletes.
This is why heat illnesses are important factors to take in consideration for those who exercise in the
heat. In this experiment, the participants of this study were ninety five Division I football players in
southern Florida. During this experiment the participants were engaged in two-a-day practices.
Intervention: Athletic Trainers or other medical professionals need to take precaution and stop the
progression of the heat illness that may occur. This is why the Heat Illness Symptom Index (HISI) was
created. By using HISI, it is used to assess symptoms of heat illness that occur in their milder forms on a
13-item scale. The thirteen items on this scale included feeling tired, swelling, cramps, nausea, dizziness,
thirst, vomiting, confusion, muscle weakness, heat sensations on the head or neck, chills, stopping
sweating, and feeling light headed. Then the athletes were asked to rank their symptoms for each of the
following categories on a 0 to 10 scale, where 10 is the most severe. Then, each of the results the
players had given were incorporated into a graph determining how the athletes correlated to factors
related to heat illness. Individual body type, level of conditioning, acclimatization, body weight before
practice and work rate were taken into consideration for the following groups of football players;
(kicker/punter/quarterback), (defensive backs/running backs/linebackers/receivers), and (offensive
lineman/defensive lineman). Comparison: The goal for the Heat Illness Symptom Index is to assess the
athlete based on the correlation of their symptoms to other athletes to determine if they are at risk of a
heat illness. By analyzing these results earlier with the HISI test, it hopes to decrease the chances that an
athlete will experience such heat related illnesses. Outcome: The results turned out to be that the mean
score on the heat illness symptom scale was 12.1 and the median value was 8.0. Then an average log
scale was taken and the results for the following groups were (kicker/punter/quarterback) was 1.42, for
the (defensive backs/running backs/linebackers/receivers) was 1.96, and (offensive lineman/defensive
lineman) was 2.40. The higher number means that they are in more of a risk for heat illness. Also the
factors that influence heat illness were dehydration, heat, humidity and physical exertion. Your
Interpretation: I believe the article was informative and not bias towards a certain perspective.
However, using a correlation strategy can be difficult in the sense that it applies to the general public
rather than the individual. That means an individual may be experiencing certain symptoms but they
may not necessarily have heat illness. Also, as an athletic trainer, coach, or fitness specialist it is very
essential to understand and take the necessary precautions if the athlete is at risk of any type of heat
illness. It is especially imperative to do tests such as the HISI ahead of time to avoid any danger that
could happen to the athlete.