The heat stroke is a painful condition, as a result of prolonged body stay under the influence of high temperature. To put it more simply, a heat stroke is an overheating of the body. As a result of overheating, the body is unable to maintain normal body temperature, because processes of heat formation with the simultaneous difficulty of heat transfer are intensified, and that subsequently causes serious disruptions to its vital functions. The particular danger of heat stroke can cause in people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, up to a cardiac arrest.
Symptoms of heat stroke
- Redness of the skin of the body
- Shortness of breath
- cold sweat
- weakness
- nausea and vomiting
- High temperature (up to 39-41 ° C)
- dizziness, darkening in the eyes, visual hallucinations (flickering before the eyes, a sensation of movement of foreign objects, crawling creepy before the eyes)
- dilated pupils
- a severe headache
- Frequent and weak pulse
- the skin becomes hotter and drier
- muscle cramps and pain
- rapid breathing
- In severe cases – hallucinations, seizures, involuntary urination and defecation (stool, bowel movement), loss of consciousness
- a violation or complete absence of sleep (insomnia) It is also possible to reverse, a sharp drowsiness.
Clinical forms of heat stroke
- Asphyxia (dominated by breathing disorders, febrile temperature: 38-39 ° C)
- Hyperthermic (pyretic temperature dominates: 39-41 ° C)
- Cerebral (dominated by neuropsychiatric disorders (dizziness, etc.)
- Gastroenteric (dominated by dyspeptic disorders (nausea, etc.)
Causes of heatstroke
Overheating of the body is facilitated by everything that disrupts sweating and makes it difficult to evaporate. In addition, the causes of heat stroke can also be mentioned below:
- High temperature and humidity of the air
- A high temperature in closed or poorly ventilated rooms
- Physical work in leather, rubberized or synthetic clothing under the influence of high ambient temperature
- Overwork
- Dehydration of the body
- Plentiful food
- Long hikes in hot weather
Specialists recommend the following prevention measures:
- Transfer or transfer the victim to a shade or a cool, well-ventilated room and a normal level of humidity (space should be in the nearest radius open, without mass locating people), and also away from the direct action of the heat source. To fan the victim with frequent movements.
- Be sure to put the injured on your back. Head and legs should be raised, putting any things under them (for example, a bag). It is important that while vomiting it is necessary to position the patient in such a way as to avoid choking with vomit. If vomiting was, then it is necessary to release the airways from the vomit.
- Release the victim from the outer clothing (especially compressing the neck and chest, release from the trouser belt, if the clothes are synthetic or from a dense fabric it is better to remove it altogether).
- Wrap the body with a wet sheet or sprinkle with cold water. Wet your face with cold water. You can also soak any cloth with cold water and a pat on the chest (you can sweat the entire body with water about 20 ° C or, if possible, take a bath with cool water (18-20 ° C)).
- Drink the victim with a lot of cool water (preferably mineral water) with the addition of sugar and at the tip of a teaspoon of salt, or at least simple cool water. Good help is the usual tincture of valerian: 20 drops per a third of a glass of water. If the victim’s condition allows, you can give him strong tea or coffee;
- Apply a cold compress (or a bottle of cold water, pieces of ice) to the head (on the forehead and under the back of the head)
Author Bio
Laura Holden is a health mentor and fitness guider at the most prominent healthcare center in the United Kingdom. In this article, she explicates the threats of heatstroke to the society to the increase of risk of high warm temperature due to global warming around the world. Moreover, she provides amateur lectures at essay help UK for the awareness of students.