Given the current weather trend, a timely topic. Everyone has heard of heatstroke, but how much do you really know and understand about it?<\/p>\n
When the weather is hot, humid and relentless in this, the risk of heat-related illness raises daily. It is important for you to understand the risks, signs and urgent needs associated with this spectrum of disease.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Heat cramps<\/strong><\/p>\n Although unpleasant, heat cramps are not themselves life-threatening. Sometimes they\u2019re mild but usually severe. Heat cramps involve the sudden, often brief onset of muscle cramps, often in the legs and stomach. They\u2019re caused by a combination of dehydration, salt deficiency and muscle fatigue, and they tend to strike those who are exerting themselves for longer periods of time in a warm environment. Often they set in as the person sits to rest.<\/p>\n If you or someone near you experiences these unpleasant bouts, here are a few tips for treatment:<\/p>\n Often heat cramps go away with rest and fluids, but they may happen again if the person goes back to the exertion<\/p>\n Heat Exhaustion<\/strong><\/p>\n This is the most common heat-related illness. Dehydration (loss of body water) and salt depletion (sweating out salt but replacing only the water) make a person at risk for heat exhaustion when they\u2019re exposed to prolonged heat and humidity, or when they\u2019re exerting themselves for periods of time in hot environments.<\/p>\n Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: weakness, fatigue, headache, vertigo (feeling like the room spins around you), nausea and vomiting, sometimes muscle cramps.<\/p>\n With heat exhaustion, the body\u2019s temperature regulation is still working, so body temperature does not rise above 105 degrees F (40 degrees C). This is a concerning condition, however, because heat exhaustion is potentially leading to the development of heatstroke. Before you realize it, the body\u2019s cooling mechanisms can become overwhelmed and temperature can jump from normal to dangerously high (106 degrees F) in under 15 minutes. Never risk this progression! If you or someone around you is having symptoms, respond and react before the situation turns potentially deadly<\/p>\n If someone experiences heat exhaustion, they need to immediately move to a cooler environment. Lay them down, remove extra layers and prop up their legs. You can give some fluids if they\u2019re not nauseated. Seek medical attention if they cannot drink or if they are not feeling better quickly. If someone has health problems like heart disease, diabetes, breathing problems or if they are elderly, seek medical attention immediately when you recognize the heat exhaustion.<\/p>\n \u00a0Heatstroke\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Thankfully rare in occurrence, heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Some patients have symptoms before the development, such as heat exhaustion, but some people develop heatstroke quickly and unexpectedly.<\/p>\n Heatstroke victims have body temperatures above 105 degrees F. The longer the temperature is elevated and the higher the elevation, the more danger they are in for deadly results.<\/p>\n Heatstroke gets its name because it can resemble a stroke. Invariably patients will have problems with neurological (brain) functioning. They may be confused, combative and fighting, unable to stand upright, slurring speech, weak in an extremity or half of the body, hallucinating, having a seizure or comatose. As the body\u2019s ability to cool itself fails, temperature rises quickly which causes brain injury and swelling. This leads to the constellation of symptoms above.<\/p>\n Not only does heatstroke cause brain damage, it also leads to circulation problems, kidney failure, liver failure, possible heart failure and an inability for blood to clot properly (causing bleeding and blood clots at the same time).<\/p>\n Heatstroke myth: \u201cThey won\u2019t be sweating if it\u2019s heatstroke; I see sweat, so it must be the alcohol they were drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n Not true! Victims of heatstroke will have very warm skin, but they may be sweating still. The presence of sweat does not mean the person doesn\u2019t have heatstroke.<\/p>\n If a person develops symptoms of heatstroke:<\/p>\n In cases of true heatstroke, up to 60% can die from the associated complications. The sooner it is recognized and intervention begins, the better chance of a saved life.<\/p>\n Prevention:<\/strong><\/p>\n ————————————-<\/p>\n Sources researched for the above information:<\/p>\n Nancy Caroline\u2019s Emergency Care in the Streets (Caroline)<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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