The months arrive with longer days and days in the pool, sun, beach, or beach bar. However, the arrival of high temperatures entails certain risks: along with food poisoning (more common in summer), sunstroke and heat stroke fly overhead as the main dangers.
What is heatstroke?
Broadly speaking, prolonged exposure to high temperatures and sunlight, although they can also be caused by acute physical exertion in the hottest hours of the day.
From AEGON they emphasize that there are differences concerning a heat stroke, more dangerous and severe, and that it can imply loss of consciousness. Heat strokes are usually produced by prolonged exposure to high temperatures (over 40º).
On the other hand, sunstroke can occur from prolonged exposure to the sun without adequate exposure, accompanied by high temperatures. The body loses water and essential mineral salts such as sodium or potassium, so the symptoms correspond to those of dehydration.
Although it varies according to the severity of the symptoms, the patient usually recovers between 24 and 48 hours later.
Sunstroke: symptoms to recognize it and differences with heat stroke
These are the main symptoms recognized a sunstroke:
- Congested face.
- Profuse sweating.
- Headache.
- Fatigue and feeling exhausted.
- Feeling thirsty.
- Intermittent muscle cramps in extremities and abdomen.
- These are the symptoms of heat stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Fever of 40°C or higher.
- Changes in mental status or behavior, such as lightheadedness, confusion, agitation, and slurred speech.
- Heat, dry skin, or excessive sweating.
- Nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
- Reddened skin.
- Fast, strong, irregular pulse.
- Labored or noisy breathing.
- Headache.
- Fainting, which may be the first sign in adults
Heat strokes are severe:
While heat strokes can be mild, heat strokes are usually severe and pose a special danger (even death) for children and the elderly, since if the failure of the thermoregulatory mechanism is not treated promptly, it could lead to multi-organ failure.
If a person suffers a severe heat stroke, call the ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Until hospital care arrives, it is important to try to reduce the person’s body temperature with wet clothes, and fans, and to keep them in a cool place. Of course, you should never submerge the person in cold water, since the sudden drop in body temperature could be counterproductive and dangerous.
How to prevent heat stroke
- Avoid exposing yourself directly to the sun, especially in the central hours of the day and during the hottest peaks.
- Do not stay in closed places like the car.
- Always use sun protection cream.
- Stay hydrated by consuming plenty of fluids, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
- Ventilate the house at the beginning or end of the day.
- Get wet with fresh water to refresh yourself.
- Wear light and breathable clothing.
- Wear a cap, hat, and sunglasses.
- Do not practice sports during the hottest hours.
- If you have already suffered from sunstroke, drink plenty of water, apply moisturizing cream on the burned skin, and rest.
These were the symptoms of heat stroke and we have also discussed how to prevent it.
See also: Symptoms of a stroke in women
