Heat Stroke

What is heat stroke?

the most severe form of heat-related illness
(hyperthermia). It occurs when your body overheats and
can’t cool down. It can develop if you’re in a very warm
space, like a home without air conditioning, or if you’re doing
intense physical activity that generates lots of body heat.
Heat stroke causes your body temperature to soar to
dangerous levels, typically above 104 degrees Fahrenheit
(40 degrees Celsius).
Types of heat stroke :
Classic (non-exertional) heat stroke
Heat in your environment (like a car, home or outdoor space)
overwhelms your body’s ability to cool itself. Classic heat stroke
typically affects children and adults over age 65. This is the type you
hear about on the news during heat waves.
Exertional heat stroke
You generate lots of heat through physical activity (metabolic heat),
and it’s more than your body can handle. Exertional heat stroke often
occurs when physical activity and hot weather mix, but it can also
occur in normal temperatures. This type of heat stroke typically affects
young, healthy adults.
 What are the signs and symptoms of heat stroke?
 High body temperature, typically over 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
 Blurred vision.
 Confusion.
 Delirium.
 Dizziness.
 Fainting (syncope).
 Fast heart rate (tachycardia).
 Fast, shallow breathing (tachypnea).
 Low blood pressure (hypotension).
 Nausea and vomiting.
 Seizures.
 Slurred speech.
 Skin color changes — either flushed or paler than usual.
 Skin that’s dry (classic heat stroke) or sweaty (exertional heat stroke).
 Weakness.
 What are the risk factors for developing heat stroke?
Heat stroke risk factors fall into several categories:

• Jobs and activities. Agricultural workers, construction workers, firefighters, military

members and athletes face an increased risk of heat stroke. Casual workouts can also lead
to heat stroke, especially if you’re not used to physical activity in the heat.
• Social and environmental factors. These are things like not having air conditioning at
home, living in a warm climate, living alone and feeling pressure from friends or coaches to
push your body to its limits.
• Age and health conditions. You face a higher risk of heat stroke if you’re over age 65,
pregnant, dehydrated, have a viral or bacterial infection or have cardiovascular disease
(which can affect your body’s ability to cool down). Conditions that limit your body’s ability to
sweat — putting you at risk for overheating — include anhidrosis, deep burns, extensive
scars and ectodermal dysplasia (an inherited condition that can affect your sweat glands).
• Babies and children also face an increased risk of heat stroke. They’re vulnerable to
extreme heat, even for short periods of time. This is why it’s dangerous to leave your child in
an enclosed car, no matter how soon you think you’ll be back.
• Medications and substances. Certain medications and substances interfere with your
body’s ability to cool down. They might raise your risk of dehydration, reduce how much
you sweat or cause your metabolism to generate more heat.

Medications and substances that raise your risk of heat stroke:

 Amphetamines.
 Anticholinergics, which are medications that block acetylcholine — a chemical
 that stimulates sweat production
 Antihistamines
 Antipsychotic medications
 Benzodiazepines
 Beta-blockers
 Calcium-channel blockers
 Diuretics
 Laxatives
 Lithium (a mood stabilizer).
 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
 Tricyclic antidepressants

Other substances:

 Alcohol.
 Cocaine.
 Heroin.
 Phencyclidine (PCP).
 MDMA (“ecstasy”).
What are possible complications of heat stroke?

Serious complications that can occur with heat stroke include:

• Disruption to your brain activity (coma).

• Muscle breakdown, which sends toxins into your blood
(rhabdomyolysis).
• Reduced flow of blood and oxygen to your organs (hypovolemic
shock).
• Severe damage to major organs like your lungs (acute respiratory
distress syndrome), kidneys (kidney failure), heart (heart failure) or liver
(liver failure).
Because heat stroke can lead to life-threatening complications,
every minute counts when it comes to getting medical care
Heat stroke first aid
Here’s what you should do for someone with signs of heat stroke:

Heat stroke affects a person’s ability to stay aware and awake, so they’ll likely need bystanders to help.

• Move the person out of the sun or heat to a cooler spot.

• Pour water over their skin and use anything available to fan them.
• Soak a towel in ice water and apply it to their skin. Cover as much of their skin’s surface area as possible.
Replace with newly soaked towels every minute or so.
• Apply ice or cold packs to their armpits or neck.

It’s just as important to know what NOT to do. Here are key tips:

• Don’t give the person fever-reducing medication, like acetaminophen. These medications don’t help heat
stroke, which happens for different reasons than a fever. They may also worsen complications like organ
damage.
• Don’t give them any fluids to drink. This might seem surprising. But a person experiencing heat stroke might
accidentally inhale the liquid (aspiration), which can be dangerous.
Can heat stroke be prevented?
 Prevention
Yes, it’s often possible to prevent heat stroke. This can be harder to do if you have certain risk factors, but a
little planning can go a long way. Here are some suggestions:
• Keep your home cool. Use fans and/or air conditioning. When the temperature is very high —
especially above 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2 degrees Celsius) — fans won’t be enough.
• Develop a plan for hot days. If your home isn’t cool enough, identify places where you can go to cool
down. These include community centers, shopping malls, movie theaters and loved ones’ homes.
• Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during and after physical activity in the heat. Make sure
you also take in electrolytes — for example, by adding electrolyte powders or tablets to your water. It’s
important to stay hydrated even if you’re taking it easy, too. Your healthcare provider can advise you on
how much water to drink to support your body’s needs.
• Avoid or limit heat exposure. Try to schedule workouts at cooler times of the day (like early morning).
On hot days, opt for an indoor workout in air conditioning. If you must exert yourself in the heat — for
example, for work — talk to your employer about scheduled breaks and ways to lower the risk of heat-
related illness.
• Acclimatize. This is a fancy word that simply means giving your body time to adjust to the heat. A coach
or trainer can help you develop a plan that’s right for you. In general, you’ll start with shorter workouts in
the heat and gradually make them longer and more intense.
9 Tips to Prevent Heatstroke
1. Maintain proper hydration

Drinking enough water or other fluids is extremely

important. The fluids you consume to remain hydrated
should be nonalcoholic.

Avoid iced tea, soda, coffee and alcohol.

This will help your body sweat to maintain a normal

temperature.
2. Reduce physical exertion
• Avoid strenuous activities during the hotter hours of the
day (10 a.mAM.to–3 p.m.PM). If you must do work during
these hours, drink 24 ounces of fluid two hours before
and another 8 ounces right before. During the activity,
consume another 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes
3. Keep cool
• To fight heatstroke, it is imperative to stay cool. Try to stay
in a well-ventilated area that is not so crowded; a well-air-
conditioned space is the best option.

• Use a fan or other cooling system to keep your body cool.

If you are outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.
4. Eat right
• It is better to eat light, small, and more frequent meals than heavy and less frequent
meals.
Also, it is better to eat cool hydrating foods. Some cooling and hydrating foods full of
electrolytes to fight heat-related illnesses include:
• Watermelon
• Cucumber
• Coconut water
• Mint
• Melon
• Curd
• Green leafy vegetables
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Berries
5. Wear the right clothing
• Wear clothes that are of light shade and fit loosely.
Choose clothes that are made from natural fibers such as
cotton and linen, and avoid synthetic fibers as they are
not good in sweat absorption.
• Accessorizing with a sun hat or cap for some shade and
sunglasses to protect your eyes is also important
• Don’t wear any excess clothing. Too much clothing in hot
temperatures hampers your body’s ability to sweat and
cool itself down.
6. Stay indoors
• Try to stay in cool air-conditioned places as much as
possible. If you’re working outdoors, you can take little
breaks and cool down in a mall or a cold public place.

• For mild to moderate heat, electric fans may do the trick

and keep you cool. But, if they don’t help and you don’t
have air conditioning, you can cool off with a cold-water
shower or bath.
7. Wear sunscreen
• Having sunburn can be bad for your body’s ability to cool
down. It can also make you dehydrated.

• So, if you’re going outside in the sun, make sure you’re

prepared by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or
higher. If you stay outside for a long duration, you may
need to reapply the sunscreen
8. Replace salt and minerals

When you sweat excessively due to heat, important salt

and minerals are lost from the body and they need to be
replaced. This can be done by drinking a sports drink, salt
tablets, oral rehydration solutions, and other fluids
9. Monitor those at high risk
Some groups of people are more prone to heatstroke and are at a greater risk than
others and thus require constant monitoring. They include:

• The elderly, that is, those who are aged 60+ years
• Those living in a warm environment without air conditioning or temperature
regulation
• Infants and kids
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding mothers
• Those who suffer from hypertension or respiratory disorders
• Those who suffer from mental disorders
“Stay cool, stay focused,
and conquer the heatwave.”