Handling Heatstroke

It’s July and the heat index is 105 degrees outside. You decide to go running in the middle of the day. After, you feel disoriented. You may be suffering from a heatstroke.

Heatstroke is a severe case of hyperthermia, a condition that keeps the body from expelling heat when the body’s cooling system fails. It causes body temperature to rise rapidly, causing organ failure. It most often occurs suddenly in conditions of humidity and temperature above 90 degrees. There are distinct differences between heatstroke and heat exhaustion, which takes time to develop and does not cause the high body temperature that is threatening to life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year an average of about 658 people succumb to heat-related deaths. Children, the elderly and pets are most affected by this condition because their bodies may not be able to regulate temperature effectively. Athletes, soldiers and people with occupations that require physical labor in hot environments are also susceptible to heatstroke.

Other factors that increase your risk of heatstroke are:

·       Drinking alcohol.

·       Being male.

·       Being dehydrated.

·       Drugs that affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature, such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers or heart and blood pressure medications.

·       Having diseases that affect your body’s ability to sweat, such as cystic fibrosis.

·       Having certain medical disorders, such as a sleep disorder or problems with your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, thyroid or blood vessels.

·       Wearing heavy or tight clothing, such as protective gear.

·       Having a high fever.

·       Having obesity.

·       A past history of heatstroke

·       Poor physical conditioning or not being used to hot conditions.

The body cools itself by the evaporation of perspiration. When the outside temperature, humidity or the internal body temperature becomes too high, the perspiration can’t evaporate fast enough. This in turn causes the chemical reactions inside the body to become unbalanced because of their sensitivity to temperature change.

This initial overheating is the foundation for heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion, the lesser of the two illnesses, is characterized by clammy skin and weakness. Heatstroke frequently develops swiftly with little warning, so take time to get acclimated to the warmer environment. Once a person has heatstroke they have actually lost the ability to make perspiration. High temperature, confusion, hot and dry skin and even coma are also symptoms of heatstroke. Beware of high humidities, which can deter the way your body cools your skin.

Here are some ways that heat-related illness can be prevented for people and pets:

·       Drink 2-4 glasses of water every hour.

·       Never leave children in a vehicle.

·       Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothing.

·       Use sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher.

·       Stop activity and get into a cool area if lightheadedness, confusion or weakness occurs.

·       Avoid heavy meals and hot foods.

·       Dress infants in cool, loose-fitting clothing.

·       Plan outdoor activities either before noon or in the evening, resting often in shady areas.

·       For pets, provide fresh, cool water in a tip-proof container.

·       Provide a wading pool to cool off.

·       Provide plenty of shade.

One general rule of thumb is that when the weather heats up, you should slow down. Pay attention to stresses on your body when the heat index is over 90 degrees.

If you are experiencing a heat-related illness, get help immediately. Elevate your head and drink plenty of fluids. One of the best ways to beat the heat is by drinking a lot of water. Remember that heatstroke is a preventable illness.