{"id":11660,"date":"2025-07-22T06:00:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T05:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=11660"},"modified":"2025-07-21T16:53:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:53:40","slug":"beat-the-heat-a-guide-to-preventing-heat-illness-in-british-american-football-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2025\/07\/22\/beat-the-heat-a-guide-to-preventing-heat-illness-in-british-american-football-players\/","title":{"rendered":"Beat the Heat: A guide to preventing heat illness in British American football players"},"content":{"rendered":"
Introduction<\/strong><\/h5>\n

External heat illnesses (EHI) are a prevalent problem in American football globally due to the sports scheduling, high physical demands and protective equipment. Preventing EHI by understanding, recognizing and managing symptoms can improve players\u2019 health and save lives. Therefore, this blog explores the causes, symptoms, risk factors, and preventive measures to help players, coaches, and medical staff mitigate the dangers of EHI.<\/span><\/p>\n

External Heat Illnesses in American Football<\/strong><\/h5>\n

EHI can occur due to external heat factors (humidity, temperature and UV) raising internal body temperatures (1). EHI in American football (AF) players can range from muscle cramps to heat stroke <\/span>(2)<\/span>. Due to games occurring in summer and insufficient funding for effective counter measures, UK players are at greater risk. A high wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is a strong predictor of EHI. In AF, for every 100,000 athlete exposures (one practice or game per player), 15.5 EHI are reported, approximately 11 above other sports averages (1).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AF uniforms (helmets shoulder pads) cause difficulties regulating body temperature. AF uniform hinders natural physiological cooling <\/span>processes (radiation and evaporation), and\u00a0<\/span>a hot and humid microenvironment is created. This causes increased metabolic heat production. These factors increase AF players body temperature, and likelihood of EHI (3).<\/span><\/p>\n

Severities, Signs and Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

EHI occurs at varying severities, with different health consequences. EHI has mild conditions including muscular cramps and rashes, likely treatable with little intervention. Heat syncope and heat exhaustion can occur, causing fainting, extreme fatigue, nausea and headaches. When most severe, heat stroke occurs, causing seizures, extreme tachycardia and hyperventilation. Heat stroke can be life threatening, causing many fatalities <\/span>(1,2)<\/span><\/p>\n

Detecting signs and symptoms can allow for early medical intervention and improve players’ prognosis. Below is a table of different signs a symptom a player may experience <\/span>(1,2)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Mild<\/b><\/td>\nModerate<\/b><\/td>\nSevere<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Muscle Cramps<\/span><\/td>\nPale clammy Skin<\/span><\/td>\nConfusion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dizziness<\/span><\/td>\nWeak Tachycardic Pulse<\/span><\/td>\nAggression<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Headaches<\/span><\/td>\nExcessive Sweating<\/span><\/td>\nNausea\/Vomiting<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Red moist skin<\/span><\/td>\nFainting<\/span><\/td>\nSeizures\/Comas<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Light-headedness<\/span><\/td>\nExcessive fatigue<\/span><\/td>\nAtaxia-<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/h6>\n
Risk Factors<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Many risk factors increase EHI risk. Modifiable factors include dehydration, excessive clothing and low cardiovascular fitness. Non modifiable factors include hot and humid environments, taking medications (antidepressants, diuretics, beta-blockers) and high body mass <\/span>(1,2)<\/span>. Whilst body mass can be altered, many players need higher levels to be effective at their position.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interventions to prevent EHI<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Interventions can prevent EHI. WBGT monitoring can reduce players’ risk, via applying appropriate interventions (4). Risk of EHI can be monitored here (https:\/\/arielschecklist.com\/wbgt-chart\/). Selecting the relevant intervention below can save lives by preventing EHI (4).<\/span><\/p>\n

Interventions<\/strong><\/h5>\n