By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — With overnight lows expected to stay in the 90s—about 10 degrees above the seasonal average—health experts say the lack of nighttime relief is putting both people and their pets at risk.
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No overnight recovery for the body
Temperatures at or above 110 degrees are expected every day this week. Banner Urgent Care family nurse practitioner Samia Kadri said the forecast is bad news for sleep.
“We rehydrate basically because we’re not out sweating. But during those heated nights that we’ve been having, we’re not able to fully recover. So we begin the day and our body’s under stress,” Kadri said. “And then now you’re going to go through the heat again. So I think it really impacts the following day and the days that follow and the nights that follow.”
The relentless heat also keeps heart rate and body temperature elevated overnight, leading to more sweating and a higher risk for heat exhaustion. “So the potential to dehydrate is worse because you really don’t get to rest and relax and kind of heal, which is what we normally do during our deep sleep,” Kadri said.
Pets also at risk
Dr. Mindy Bemmerl, Director of Veterinary Medicine at the Arizona Humane Society, said animals face similar dangers. “Their bodies just never have that chance to decompress and kind of get some of that stress off of there because they’re still continuing to struggle with the heat,” Bemmerl said.
She said extreme cases can become life-threatening. “It can get to a point where their temperature, their body temperature is so high that they’re starting to have seizures,” Bemmerl said.
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Bemmerl said pet owners should watch for excessive panting or drooling, which are signs of heat illness. She also cautioned against cooling animals down too quickly. “Especially really high temperatures can lead to shock for the body if we cool too quickly. So we do try to cool them down slowly,” Bemmerl said.
While dogs cannot avoid going outside entirely, Bemmerl said giving them plenty of water, limiting walks, and using paw booties can help keep them safe. “If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their feet,” she said.
Tips to get through the night
Experts recommend turning on a fan and running the air conditioning in the bedroom, drinking plenty of electrolyte-rich fluids and avoiding strenuous activity during the day to manage the ongoing heat wave.
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