LSU Health Shreveport Professor awarded grant to study heat illness in high school athletes

LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. CORY COEHOORN (photo courtesy of LSU Health Shreveport)

LSU Health Shreveport Associate Professor Dr. Cory Coehoorn received a grant of over $200,000 to research heat-related illness in high school athletes. The study will work with around 100 football players around the state. Coehoorn says the goal is to use AI and machine learning to predict internal temperatures.

“If we can keep track of their core temperature, monitor it on an iPad or an app, we can pull them out of the environment before they actually reach those detrimental temperatures, and we can keep them safe and really prevent heatstroke before it starts,” Coehoorn explained.

Coehoorn says heat-related illness is a major problem for high school athletes, especially in the south, and heat-related deaths are steadily rising. He says football players in particular are susceptible due to their pads and equipment.

“A barrier to the heat actually moving away from the body and getting to the atmosphere; because the main way we cool down is that we sweat, and then it evaporates into the environment. Well, football gear prevents that,” Coehoorn noted.

Coehoorn says they want to develop a cost-effective wearable system that can provide real-time heat-risk alerts to coaches and trainers.

While early morning and late evening practices that avoid the highest temperatures can certainly help, Coehoorn says it’s not a blanket solution. He says every athlete reacts to heat differently.

“They are more susceptible because their core temperature was higher. And so if we can individually monitor these people, we eliminate the chance of them getting to a detrimental state,” Coehoorn said.

While the technology is being developed, Coehoorn recommends coaches let athletes acclimate themselves to the heat, ensure they stay hydrated and provide ample rest.