PULSE NO ONE IS IMMUNE TO HEAT RISK.

Byline: Mariko Thompson Staff Writer

Valley residents are accustomed to triple-digit heat in the summers. But that doesn't reduce their risk for heat-related illnesses.

According to the American Medical Athletic Association, more than 300 Americans die from heat-related illnesses each year. While people can become acclimatized to heat, the process teaches the body to sweat sooner and faster, which in turn increases the need for fluids.

``You may be more tolerant of the heat than someone visiting from a cooler climate, but that doesn't mean you're better hydrated or that you don't need as much fluid,'' said Martin Yadrick, a Chatsworth-based registered dietitian and sports nutritionist.

People at greatest risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke are children, elderly adults, outdoor workers and those who exercise during peak daylight hours. To stay hydrated when exercising, the American Medical Athletic Association recommends:

Drinking about 20 ounces of fluid two to three hours before taking part in the activity.

Drinking to match sweat loss during the activity. The AMAA estimates 24 to 32 ounces per hour on a warm day.

Weighing yourself before and after strenuous workouts. For every pound of body weight lost while exercising, drink another 20 to 24 ounces of fluid after the workout.

Signs of dehydration include dry lips, dry tongue, headache, nausea, muscle cramping, weakness, dizziness, exhaustion and concentrated or dark- colored urine. Should symptoms occur, the person should stop the activity, rest in a cool place and drink fluids. If someone appears disoriented or falls unconscious, he or she needs immediate medical attention.

Knowing the guidelines is the key to preventing dehydration, Yadrick said.

``If you rely on your thirst as an indicator, you may have waited too long,'' he said. ``And if you stop drinking because you're no longer thirsty, you may not have drunk enough.''

ALL NATURAL: In the aftermath of studies showing that hormone replacement therapy raises the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's, women approaching menopause may be wondering about natural remedies to ease their symptoms. Ann Louise Gittleman teaches women how to deal with mood swings, weight gain, memory loss and hot flashes in ``Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause'' (Harper San Francisco; $14). Gittleman's ``All Star Peri Zappers'' include evening primrose oil for breast tenderness, natural progesterone cream to balance hormones, and flaxseed oil for depression and fatigue.

BREAST CANCER PATIENTS NEEDED: UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center is looking for volunteers for a study that will investigate an antibody to boost the immune system in women who have not responded to conventional chemotherapy treatments for metastatic breast cancer.

Researchers are recruiting women who have already been treated with the chemotherapy drugs Taxol or Taxotere, and an anthracycline drug such as Adriamycin, but have relapsed.

Using antibodies to fight cancer could provide a less-toxic alternative to chemotherapy for women with recurrent breast cancer. Researchers will focus on an antibody called R1550, which binds tightly to a protein called MUC1 on cancer cells. The antibody then activates immune system cells to kill the cancer. Other targeted therapies enhance cancer-killing drugs. This approach relies on the natural immune system cells to fight cancer.

Volunteers should call [phone] to see if they qualify to participate in the study.

GET OUT OF THE GYM: Soka University of America offers a fitness walk at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 1. The hike and one-hour exercise session will be led by Gail Holloway, a personal fitness consultant and dance instructor. The class will focus on body alignment, deep breathing, stretching and toning. The Calabasas campus is located at 26800 W. Mulholland Highway. The class is free and open to the public. Call [phone] for more information.

HEART-HEALTHY: We hear about clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes and just link it all to heart disease, but the heart also plays a major role in numerous autoimmune diseases. You can learn more about it at the Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation luncheon, noon Aug. 2, Caribou Restaurant in the Sportsmen's Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Guest speaker is cardiologist Debra R. Judelson. Tickets are $12 and reservations are required. For more information on the event or the organization, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Exercise increases the need for adequate hydration, especially in summer's intense heat.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(2) no caption (book: ``Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause'')