Symptoms of sunstroke: When must you consult a doctor?

     Sunstroke is an emergency case related to a rapid increase in body temperature. People of different ages may have sunstroke. It causes illness, dizziness, and high temperature. Exposure to extremely high hot waves may hurt the body whereas sweating helps the body to keep its normal temperature. But when the body cannot control the temperature that increases rapidly, it may reach a deadly stage. So, we offer you some advice to avoid increasing body temperature quickly and to avoid the health risks of sunstroke under the heat wave that strikes many countries from Spain, France, and United Kingdom.

 

What is sunstroke? 

Sunstroke is an illness caused by high body temperature when people expose to physical stress in a high heat wave or in a hot and humid environment generally. Sunstroke happens when the body cannot cool itself after exposition to high temperature for a long time; it may hit athletes who train for a long time during the day or people who drive cars without air conditioning for long-hour trips, the aged who cannot sweat well, and some patients who take specific kinds of medicines (diuretics and depression drugs) 

Can sunstroke cause death? 

Sunstroke is a sudden health case. Death rates as a result of sunstroke decreased in the last years because of good care, early interference, and effective treatments, but sunstroke is still the cause of 10% of deaths.

Sunstroke may cause serious complications and often leaves some clear effects such as contractions and neurological disorders.

The main symptoms of Sunstroke:

Higher temperature

Face redness

Thirst

Tiredness

Strong headache

Dizziness and loss of consciousness

nausea and vomiting

behavior disorder

Fast breathing and fast heartbeats

In simple cases, body temperature decreases when the person sits in a cool place, and sunstroke decreases within 12 hours. But we should deal with sunstroke quickly or symptoms may worsen and the skin becomes dry and the person loses consciousness.

 The danger lies in not decreasing temperature quickly as sunstroke damages vital organs and the most dangerous thing lies in heart arrest.

 

How should we deal with sunstroke?

You should deal with sunstroke quickly since delay may increase the symptoms. You should call for help and dial the ambulance. Meanwhile, follow these important steps:

Put the person in a shadow or cool place.

  If the person is still conscious, give them water to drink. Avoid giving the patient coffee, carbonated  beverages, or alcoholic drinks as they increase dryness

Take the person`s clothes off. We should wear wide and bright clothes made of cotton or linen at high temperatures.

Put wet towels on the person`s body to cool their temperature. Never swim in cold water as this increases the danger of heat stroke which damages the heart. Ice compresses should be put on arms and legs.

translated by: Asmaa Fawzi Muhammad Farouh  

proofread by: Zelal Mustafa Sabbagh

 the source: is here