Sports Medicine: How to Prepare for the Heat on Game Day
Expert: Dr. Paige Dyrek, primary care sports medicine physician and team physician for UCLA Men’s Soccer
- Be mindful of heat. This year’s World Cup is predicted to be the hottest on record which raises legitimate concerns for player health and safety.
• Be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illness including muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, and reduced cognitive and physical performance. If left untreated, athletes can develop heat stroke which is a life-threatening emergency.
• Spectators may also be at risk of heat-related illness and are encouraged to hydrate regularly throughout the day, seek shade whenever possible, wear breathable clothing, and recognize the first signs of heat stress.
Sports Medicine: World Cup of Online Betting
Expert: Dr. Timothy Fong, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, director of the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship and professor of psychiatry at the UCLA.
- Be aware that sports betting is rampant. It has become very easy to access on mobile phones, putting a casino into every person’s pocket. Parents who are unfamiliar with these apps should increase their attention to what apps young people are downloading and have a discussion with minors about the risks of sports betting.
• Pay attention to how you feel after the match and once the bets have been settled — sports betting should never create emotional distress, embarrassment or shame. Know that the majority of people who wager on the World Cup will do so without long lasting harm, but it only takes a few losing bets to lead to financial harm and chasing losses.
• Be mindful that betting on sports, like the World Cup, is not a reliable and consistent way to make money. Any money wagered should be viewed as money that’s already spent and not likely to come back.
• Call 1-800-GAMBLER or look at uclagamblingprogram.org for more information or questions about gambling problems.
Infectious Disease: Staying Healthy During Large International Gatherings
Expert: Dr. Otto Yang, associate chief of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
- Consider wearing a mask when in close contact with others. A standard surgical-style mask can stop large droplets from spreading if someone coughs or sneezes near you.
• Practice good handwashing hygiene. Viruses are often spread by touching your face with contaminated hands, so regular hand washing is key. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if you don’t have access to running water, but remember that many of these viruses are not killed by alcohol hand sanitizer alone.
• Stay up to date on vaccinations, particularly flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Protecting yourself is important, especially if you have risk factors for more severe diseases. Those factors include being older, having lung disease or having a weakened immune system.
Cardiology: Managing Stress and Excitement During High-Stakes Competition
Expert: Dr. Tamara Horwich, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, medical director, UCLA Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, co-director, UCLA Women's Cardiovascular Center
- Eat healthfully - minimize the consumption of sodium-heavy foods and alcohol on game day
- Don't ignore warning signs. Symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, dizziness, unexplained sweating, or pain in the jaw, neck, back, or arm should never be dismissed.
- Have a plan if you have heart disease. Make sure you have your medications available, take them as prescribed, and know when and how to seek medical care if symptoms arise.
- Take a meditation or walking break during commercials, or after the game
- Practice deep breathing exercises