PT Health Life – Heatstroke is a very common condition in the summer. So what are the symptoms of heatstroke and how should you treat it?
Heatstroke is a common phenomenon in the summer, especially on hot days when temperatures rise. If heatstroke is not treated promptly, it can cause stroke or neurological effects .
1. Signs of heatstroke
Heatstroke is a condition of heat stroke caused by heat or excessive physical activity. When body temperature increases seriously, it leads to dysfunction of other organs such as nerves, circulation, and respiration . Sunstroke is often accompanied by heatstroke .
Heatstroke often occurs at noon when the weather is extremely hot and there are many UV rays. People who work in hot weather and poor air circulation are often susceptible to heatstroke.
What are the symptoms of heat stroke? Heatstroke in mild cases often has signs such as:
- Breathe quickly
- Heart beats fast
- Indians
- The body sweats
- Dizziness and vertigo may be accompanied by headaches and nausea
If the patient is not treated promptly, it can cause more severe symptoms such as:
- Hypotension
- Heart arrhythmia
- Nervous system dysfunction: delirium, confusion, coma or seizures
- When body temperature increases too high and is not treated promptly, it can cause electrolyte disorders
2. Treatment for heatstroke
What to do when experiencing heat stroke? If the patient is still conscious, quickly move the patient to a cool place (under a tree, in the shade, indoors…). At the same time, apply the following measures to lower the patient’s body temperature such as:
- If you have a thermometer, measure your body temperature
- Have the patient lie on their side or sit with their arms resting on their knees
- Remove the patient’s clothing and use a fan to reduce body heat
- Use a cold towel to apply to the neck, armpits, groin…
- Have the patient drink plenty of water or electrolyte solution
- In case the patient is unconscious, take the patient to the nearest medical facility for timely emergency treatment.
3. How to prevent heat stroke in summer?
To avoid heatstroke in hot weather, people should note:
- When going out in hot weather, you need to cover up. You can wear sunscreen, long-sleeved clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen . You should wear light-colored clothing to limit heat absorption and wear loose, airy clothing with sweat-absorbing material.
- Drink enough water, especially when working in hot weather. Drink water regularly, even when you are not thirsty, and divide your drinking time into smaller portions during the day, limiting alcoholic beverages and carbonated soft drinks .
- If you work too long in hot weather, take time to rest in a cool area.
- If possible, limit going out during hot weather between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. every day.
- Add green vegetables and fruits to your daily menu, especially vegetables that contain a lot of potassium such as tomatoes, spinach, bananas…
- Be absolutely careful not to leave the elderly or young children in a car with the engine turned off for too long because the temperature can rise very quickly, causing heat stroke, which is life-threatening.
- When coming back from work or going out in the hot sun, do not step into an air-conditioned room or take a shower to avoid temperature differences that can lead to a stroke.
