What is heatstroke and what are the main symptoms it causes? Knowing it helps you identify sunstroke in summer, a typical disorder of the hottest months of the year.
With the arrival of summer, it is common for the hottest days of the year to also begin. And, with the arrival of the hottest days, a much more common disorder than is thought usually appears: the so-called sunstroke, which in short (an issue that we will develop more extensively throughout this note), appears when our body gets too hot and is not capable of self-cooling, maintaining a low temperature.
Although medically it is known by the name of hyperthermia, the most common thing is that many people really identify it with the name of sunstroke.
What is sunstroke?
Heat stroke is known as an increase in temperature above the normal hypothalamic value produced above all by a failure of the heat evacuation systems of our body.
In other words, it appears especially when our body is not capable of self-cooling by staying at a low temperature, because it has overheated, especially as a result of the existence of a very high outside temperature.
Hence, it is a disorder that generally occurs and appears in the summer months.
Symptoms of heatstroke
Before going on to relate the main symptoms of sunstroke, it is necessary to know that its first symptoms correspond more to what is known as heat stroke:
- Excessive sweat.
- Tachycardia.
- The skin is very hot.
- Dizziness and nausea with the possibility of vomiting.
- Muscular weakness.
If these symptoms begin to appear, the best thing to do is to quickly get into the shade and drink plenty of water. But if the symptoms have not stopped, that heat stroke can lead to sunstroke, which you will identify with the following symptoms:
- The skin has stopped sweating, but is very hot and dry.
- Feeling of mental confusion.
- Trouble breathing normally.
- Frequent vomiting.
- Loss of consciousness may occur.
Given that at this time the person suffering from heat stroke may not be fully conscious, it is best that the people who accompany them call the doctor quickly.
How to prevent sunstroke?
Bearing in mind that it is possible to prevent heatstroke, it is obvious that a series of basic tips should be followed to precisely help prevent it before it is too late.
The key is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun (especially on days when there is greater humidity and heat), not to carry out physical activities in the sun that require a lot of effort, use a hat or umbrella, in addition to drinking plenty of water.
What to do in case of sunstroke?
Taking into account that the main objective is to lower the body temperature of the person who is suffering from heatstroke, it is advisable to follow the following basic advice:
- Quickly take the person into the shade.
- Strip her of unnecessary clothing.
- Fan it with cold air.
- Wet the skin with cold water.
Now that summer is approaching, it is a great idea to keep in mind what sun strokeis what its symptoms are and how to deal with it.
