Isenhurst Country Club

Many of us feel that we haven't really done anything unless we are sweating hard. Of course, it is perfectly natural for your body temperature to rise as you exercise, but this extra heat must be lost in some way.

The body dissipates heat through radiation, which means that it is lost to other cooler objects, without any physical contact.

The body also loses heat through conduction which is a similar process, but in this case there is some physical contact. For example, if you sit on a marble bench, body heat is lost through conduction.

The best known method for heat loss is through sweating and subsequent evaporation.

One common problem for people exercising in hot gymnasiums is dehydration. This is particularly evident in the summer and may lead to cramps or light-headedness. Should this occur, there are a number of sensible precautions to take:

1. Exercise during a cooler part of the day.
2. Drink water before, during and after exercise.
3. Wear clothes that expose the maximum amount of skin.
4. Monitor your heart rate closely to ensure that you stay in your training zone.

Regular exercise helps to prevent dehydration. Training increases blood volume which facilitates better heat transfer, enabling you to lose more water before dehydration sets in. This improved ability to regulate temperature is another reason why maintaining a regular exercise program is so important to us as we grow older.