Known as one of the most dangerous heat-induced
diseases, heat stroke is an emergency situation in which the life of the
affected person can be endangered. The victim may experience headache,
incoherence in speech, fainting, hallucinations, convulsions, and even coma in
very serious cases. Body temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius, or even
more. The person suffering from heat stroke is so dehydrated that the skin does
not sweat anymore and is dry and warm to the touch.
Heat Stroke: Types of heat strokes
There are two kinds of heat strokes:
l the classical heat stroke
l the exertion heat stroke
The Classical Heat Stroke.
Classical heat stroke occurs in people who do
not normally sweat, either because of a disease or medication. If a man does
not naturally sweat, it is difficult to cope with a warm and humid climate.
Typically, victims of this classical heat stroke
are older adults who do not have air conditioning and who suffer from chronic
health problems such as diabetes. This type of heat stroke is very dangerous
and can evolve rapidly in two or three days.
The Exertion Heat Stroke.
It begins quickly, just a few hours after making
physical exercises at high temperatures.
Practically, although the skin is sweating, the
body overheats due to very hot weather, and, additionally, physical activity
leads to dehydration.
The victims of this type of heat stroke are
usually healthy young people such as athletes and football or soccer players.
This type of heat stroke is triggered in conditions of excessive heat and
humidity, plus intense physical effort.
Heat Stroke: Causes
Causes of heat stroke are:
l Very hot weather.
l Exercise in extreme heat conditions, especially for people who do not
have a sharp physical condition.
l Positioning of the home or office on the upper floors of a building
without air conditioning.
l Inadequate clothing for the summer.
l Excessive alcohol consumption.
l Fatigue.
l Age – people of over 65 years of age are more prone to heat strokes.
l High humidity.
l The presence of various medical conditions such as alcoholism,
neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, skin or sweat glands disorders
(that can inhibit the skin's ability to sweat), diabetes, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, hyperthyroidism, hypokalaemia (potassium deficiency),
infections, or mental illness.
Heat Stroke: Risk factors
Some affections increase the risk of a person
getting heat stroke.
Obesity, sweating glands disorders, diabetes,
dehydration, malnutrition, low blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases make it
difficult for the body to adjust to heat.
In many cases, heat stroke patients suffer from
at least one of these diseases (especially the elderly). There are also
multiple possibilities for the elderly to undergo various drug treatments that
affect the body's ability to adjust its temperature.
Some drugs inhibit sweat glands. These include:
l anticholinergics (used to treat Parkinson's disease)
l antihistamines (to treat allergies)
l phenothiazines (tranquilizers)
l tricyclic antidepressants
l diuretics
Other medicines restrict blood flow to the skin
and affect the body's ability to release heat, especially the medicines for
cardiovascular diseases such as vasoconstriction and beta-blockers.
If a person uses some of these drugs, they should
ask the doctor for the possible side effects that may occur in the event of
heat stroke.
Also, those who consume drugs such as LSD,
cocaine and amphetamine have an increased risk of heat stroke. These drugs
enhance muscle activity and raise body temperature.
Excessive alcohol consumption greatly increases
the possibility that a person may experience heat stroke, as the alcohol
stimulates the elimination of water in the body and dehydrates it.
People who have reduced mobility for various
reasons (for example, people with disabilities, homeless and very poor), are
more prone to heat strokes because they often can not afford air conditioning
or can not go in a cooler place.
Also, children under two years of age may suffer
from heat stroke because their small bodies can not adjust body temperature as
well as adults or older children. Because they are unable to defend themselves
from high temperatures every summer, tragedies occur worldwide when young
children end up losing their lives.
Statistically, many children are annually
dying of heat stroke when they are left alone under the burning sun in cars
with closed doors, in parking lots, for longer periods of time. The temperature
inside the car increases rapidly when the car is not on the move and can even
exceed 60 degrees Celsius. Young children bodies cannot adapt to this
increasing temperature and heat stroke occurs.
Heat Stroke: Symptoms and Signs
Symptoms of heat stroke can, in some cases,
mimic a heart attack or other medical conditions. In other situations, the
patient may manifest in a first phase the symptoms of thermal exhaustion.
The main signs and symptoms of thermal
exhaustion, which may precede sunstroke, include:
l nausea
l vomiting
l weakness
l excessive fatigue
l headache
l muscle cramps or pain
l confusion
However, some people may suddenly develop heat
stroke symptoms without any alarm signals.
The most common symptoms of heat stroke include:
l high body temperature
l lack of sweat
l red and/or very dry skin
l fast pulse
l shortness of breath
l unusual behavior
l hallucinations
l state of confusion
l agitation
l disorientation
l convulsions and/or coma
Heat Stroke: Treatment
l The treatment of both classical and exertion heat strokes types is the
same: emergency intervention by any available means that would lower body temperature
- for example wet compresses, a fan or ice applied under the axes (attention,
but this last remedy should be used only on short time)
l hydration is very important
Early treatment increases the chances of
survival of a person suffering from heat stroke.
Heat Stroke: Prevention
Any person who is over 65 years old or
undergoing treatment for cardiovascular disease should be very careful in warm
weather.
There will be no changes in the treatment
schedule without the doctor's advice.
During the heat weather, the air conditioning
should be used. During the summer, outdoor exercises will be done early in the
morning or in the evening at late hours when the weather is cooler.
The body must gradually adapt to heat, so the
physical activity should be gradually increased in intensity, every day.
Studies have shown that the gradual warming of a
person in hot weather increases the body's ability to sweat without losing
salt. It takes about two to four weeks of exercise until the body is used with
the hot summer days.
You have to drink a lot of water. In the case of
exercises, drink even one liter of water every hour.
During gardening, however, it is sufficient to
have a glass of cold water from which you should take some sips once in awhile.
Liquids should not be used only when the feeling
of thirst appears but before it occurs because thirst often signals the
beginning of dehydration.
Studies have shown that water in which a little
salt is put prevents dehydration even better than regular water. However, you
should not exaggerate with the amount of salt because a too high salt level
increases the risk of kidney damage.
People working or doing sport outdoors during
hot summer days should wear hat to protect from the sun and white large
clothing to allow the evaporation of sweat.
Also, lotions for sun protection are indicated.
It is indicated to stay indoors on hot summer
days, and if possible in air-conditioned rooms.
If this is not possible, cold water can be
sprayed on the body frequently. If faint-like sensations occur, urgent medical
attention will be required.
A victim of the heat stroke needs immediate
medical attention. The most important thing is the speed of the intervention
that can be done without any medical help. Just remember that hydration and
cooling of the victim's body must take place as quickly as possible to increase
the chances of survival. You can do that before the medical intervention comes
in.
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