Heatstroke: Causes and solutions

What is heatstroke

Heatstroke is a very common phenomenon in the summer, occurring when your body has a long exposure to a hot environment or excessive exercise under the sun. The common symptoms of heatstroke can be fatigue, dizziness, headache, and more severe, it can cause stroke.

Heatstroke requires emergency treatment as it can quickly damage your muscles, heart, kidneys and brain. The longer the case, the worse the damage to the patient, which can cause severe complications or death.

Causes of heatstroke

• Exposure to high temperature

This is also known as nonexertional or classic heatstroke. This type of heatstroke occurs when prolonged exposure to a hot environment causes your body temperature to rise.

• Heavy exercise:

This is called exertional heat stroke caused by intense exercise under the sun or hot weather. People who are not used to exercising or working under high temperatures are more likely to get exertional heatstroke.

In addition, the following aspects can also cause your body temperature to rise:

• Wearing excess clothing: can prevent sweat from evaporating and cooling down
• Beer and Wine: can affect your body’s ability to cool down
• Dehydration: not intake enough water to replenish fluid loss through sweating

Sign of heatstroke

A common sign is that heatstroke will result in a state of hyperthermia. When the body temperature increases, it will lead to an increase in the process of sweating, causing the body to lose a large amount of water.

If the body is not replenished with enough water in time, it will lead to a decrease in circulating volume, causing cardiovascular collapse, metabolic disorders and severe electrolyte disorders, which can be fatal. Another risk factor of high body temperature is that it will cause dysfunction of many organs such as cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous.

The sign of heatstroke may start from mild symptoms such as increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, palpitations to fatigue, dizziness, headache, difficulty in breathing, cramps and finally fainting, coma, cardiovascular collapse, death.

What to do when you see a patient having heat stroke

It is essential to apply First aid to the patient having heat stroke before they have the support from medical staff.

Conduct hypothermia for the victim asap: Immediately move the victim to cool, shady areas, remove excess clothes, give them cool water mixed with salt, apply cold with a cool towel or ice in active areas. Large vessels go near the skin such as armpits, groin, neck.

If the victim is comatose, cannot drink water or vomits continuously, has a persistent fever, and has symptoms of abdominal pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing, the victim must be immediately transferred to the nearest medical centre. During the transportation, please regularly apply cool compresses to the victim.

After that, at medical centres, the patient will be given rehydration and electrolytes as well as other life support. In case the victim has a high fever, paracetamol can be used to help reduce the fever. If convulsions occur, anticonvulsant drugs must be given to the patient. In case the victim is in a coma, an endotracheal tube may be required.

Tips to prevent heatstroke

According to CDC, you may consider the following to prevent heat related illness:

Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. You can visit the shopping mall for a few hours to cool down your body if there’s no air-conditioner at home.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to avoid activities under direct sunlight. It is preferable to practice in the early morning and evening hours. Remember to rest often in shady areas to avoid dehydration.

Lookout for yourself: If you feel like your heart is pounding and gasping for breath, STOP all activity and take a rest in a cool place.

Wear Sunscreen: Sunlight affects your body’s ability to cool down, and therefore, cause you to dehydrate. Avoid exposure to sunlight by wearing sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.

Do Not Leave Children in Cars: This one is very important as cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures when left outdoors. Everyone, especially children, left in a parked car could be put in danger due to a higher chance of getting heatstroke.

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. However, keep in mind if you are under any medical treatment, follow the direction of doctors for the adequate volume of intake water.