The arrival of summer increases the risk of heat stroke due to high temperatures.
“Heat stroke is usually a head affectation due to excessive exposure to the sun or on very hot days with high environmental humidity,” explains Dr. Francisco Pozo Priego, specialist in Family Medicine at Policlínica Longares.
Although it is also known as heat stroke, it is not exactly the same thing, since the latter is more serious. When a person suffers a heat stroke, the body does not have the ability to control the temperature, so that the patient may even lose consciousness. This is due to exposure, over a long period of time, to high temperatures.
However, the main cause of heat stroke is usually excessive heat and lack of hydration.
Symptoms of heat stroke
It is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Fever
- Cramps
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Stupor
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Dizziness
- Sleepy feeling
- Convulsions
- Some disorientation
Dr. Pozo Priego adds that when a person suffers heat stroke, the skin becomes hot and the patient suffers excessive tiredness and is very thirsty.
How to act when this happens
In the event of heat stroke, it is essential to take the patient to the doctor so that his condition can be assessed.
It is important to place the patient somewhere cool, in a comfortable place and in a position that favors breathing.
In the meantime, the patient should be given cool water and fluids and we can apply wet cloths of water to reduce the body temperature.
In any case, we should not put the patient directly in very cold water, since the organism does not control the temperature thermostat well and this could lead to a significant loss of control.
Recommendations to prevent sunstroke during these summer months.
“To prevent sunstroke, it is important to avoid places where it is very hot, such as closed, unventilated rooms, and to drink plenty of cool drinks,” explains Dr. Pozo Priego.
Other recommendations can also be followed, such as the following:
- Do not practice sports during the hottest hours of the day
- Wear light clothing
- Consume foods with a high water content.
- Apply sunscreen with photoprotector
- Moisturize the skin
- Bathe frequently
- Look for cool places
What illnesses can occur in case of sunstroke?
It can cause all kinds of diseases, but above all it can create emergencies due to multi-organ failure.