HEAT STROKE AND EXHAUSTION
Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when your body overheats due
to being exposed to high temperatures or doing harsh physical activity
in the heat. Whether you're outside on a hot day or exercising, your
body has ways to keep itself cool. But sometimes it struggles to keep
pace which may result in a serious situation.
Heat exhaustion is like a warning sign that your body is overheating.
Normally, when you get hot, your body sweats to decrease the
temperature of your body. But if you're in a hot environment or doing
intense exercise, sweating might not be enough. This is when heat
stroke takes place.
Failure of Cooling down the body: Normally, sweating is an excellent
way for your body to cool down. But in extreme heat, sweating might
lag. Excessive sweating makes you lose too much water and salt, which
are both important for regulating your body temperature.
Effects on the Body: When your body overheats, it can't function
properly. Your organs, like your brain, heart, and kidneys, can be
damaged and won't work properly. Heat stroke leads to dizziness,
nausea, and even loss of consciousness. If left untreated, it can be life-
threatening.
Symptoms: Heat stroke causes the body temperature to be high and it
can even reach more than 40C which denatures the enzymes. It can
lead to hot and dry skin due to decreased sweating, rapid heartbeat or
breathing, headache, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and even seizures or
coma in severe cases.
Rapid Heartbeat: In normal conditions, your heart beats at a steady
pace, but when you have heat stroke, it starts to beat much faster than
usual to help the body temperature to drop. Heat stroke can lead to an
increased heart rate (tachycardia) as the body tries to cool itself by
pumping more blood.
Nausea and Vomiting: They are both common symptoms of heat
stroke. These symptoms may cause abdominal cramps or discomfort.
When you have heat stroke, the heat can make you feel sick to your
stomach, causing nausea.
Dizziness and Weakness: Heat stroke can cause feelings of dizziness or
weakness making it difficult to stand or walk steadily.
Heat exhaustion symptoms: Like heat stroke, it has various symptoms,
such as heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache,
muscle cramps, pale and clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, and fainting.
Heavy sweating: In heat exhaustion, you may sweat a lot as your body
attempts to regulate its temperature. However, if you're not drinking
enough water, it can contribute to dehydration.
Muscle cramps: Heat exhaustion can cause painful muscle cramps; it
results from dehydration which affects muscle function.
Pale, cool, and clammy skin: heat exhaustion can sometimes cause
pale, cool, and clammy skin. This occurs because blood flow to the skin
decreases as your body redirects blood to vital organs to maintain
internal temperature.
Emergency Treatment: If someone shows signs of heat stroke or heat
exhaustion, it's important to cool them down as fast as possible. Move
them to a cooler place, remove extra or heavy clothes, and apply cool
water or ice packs to their body. They also need to drink water to be
hydrated. In a condition where fainting happens in public places, inform
the people to give the unconscious person lots of space.
Medical Attention: Heat stroke is a very serious condition. Even if
someone seems to get better after cooling down, they should still see a
doctor. They might need treatment to prevent complications like organ
damage. Just like if someone is sick, they should get medication even
after their health is improving to the better until they finish the course.
In conclusion, to avoid having heat stroke and heat exhaustion, try your
best to stay hydrated, stay in cool temperature, stay away from doing
excessive exercise and take breaks. However, doing the opposite of that
can lead to life-threatening complications. By following these simple
tips, you can reduce your risk of heat stroke and stay safe during hot
weather conditions. Remember to prioritize your health and well-being,
especially when temperatures are high.
Done by: ShahdEldunia.23901123
