Heatstroke is one of the stages of heat injury. How else does it manifest itself? How to provide first aid for heatstroke and other stages of heat injury
We all know that in the summer, in the open sun, you can earn sunstroke. This is a special damage to the nervous system and disruption of the brain, which occurs due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on an uncovered head. However, there is a much more insidious summer attack called heat sickness or heat trauma. She can overtake a person even in the shade, in a stuffy room or in a car that was left in the sun. How does heat sickness manifest itself? What are the stages of this disease and when does the victim need urgent medical attention? A neurologist and a psychiatrist told about this on his Telegram channel Alexander Borisychev.
Heat sickness is a condition in which the human body loses its ability to perform the function of thermoregulation. Simply put, he forgets how to cool himself. The skin and internal organs cannot cope with heat transfer. As a result, the body temperature rises, the hematopoietic, nervous and musculoskeletal systems begin to "malfunction". This can happen not only on the street in the summer heat, but absolutely in any place where it is hot, stuffy and there is no fresh air circulation. Experts say that heat sickness can be earned even in an apartment or in a bathhouse.
You can even get a heat injury in an apartment / istockphoto.com
Everyone is at risk of overheating, but most often children and the elderly suffer from heat illness. The first - because the mechanism of thermoregulation in them is not yet sufficiently developed. The second - because with age, the body's ability to thermoregulation deteriorates. In addition, the following factors increase the risk of overheating and getting heat injury:
- overweight and obesity
- cardiovascular diseases
- endocrine disorders
- neurological diseases
- smoking
- drunkenness
Heat sickness has several distinct stages. Knowing about the features of each of them, you can easily track changes in your body and take precautions in a timely manner, or provide first aid to a person affected by heat injuries on the street.
Stage 1. Heat rash
How it manifests itself: Heat rash is also called heat urticaria or allergies in the heat. In children, it manifests itself as prickly heat. It occurs due to blockage of the sweat ducts and the accumulation of sweat droplets on the skin. The rash is small in size, often accompanied by itching.
What to do: Heat rash usually clears up on its own after the person has moved to a cooler area. Sometimes you may need a single dose of antihistamines.
Stage 2. Thermal edema
How it manifests itself: Most often, this stage occurs in the elderly and manifests itself as swelling of the limbs. At the same time, a person's body temperature is normal, only discomfort due to swollen legs or arms worries.
What to do: The symptom goes away after the person moves to a cooler place. Shoots well swelling lifting the legs and arms above the body line (while lying down) or raising the arms above the head. Sometimes compression stockings may be needed.
Stage 3. Heat syncope
Heat fainting can occur / istockphoto.com
How it manifests itself: Heat fainting usually occurs in people who are upright in the heat for a long time, or who change their body position abruptly (for example, stand up or sit up suddenly). At the same time, the body temperature is also not increased.
What to do: It is necessary to lay the victim (if possible in a cooler place), raise his legs above the body line and solder with ordinary salted or mineral alkaline water without gas
Stage 4. Heat cramps
How it manifests itself: At this stage of heat sickness in a person, the muscles of the limbs are cramped. Most often - the calf muscles or the thigh muscles.
What to do: If the body temperature is not elevated, and the person does not experience other unpleasant symptoms: move to a cool place, drink salted water, massage the limbs. If spasms appear in the muscles of the arms, breathing quickens and unpleasant "goosebumps" go through the body - it is useful to do breathing exercises (for example, breathing in a bag) to normalize the condition. If at the same time a person's temperature rises, it makes sense to call an ambulance.
Stage 5. Heat exhaustion
How it manifests itself: Heat exhaustion has a whole host of unpleasant symptoms:
- body temperature above 37.5
- rapid intermittent breathing
- heart palpitations
- high or vice versa, low blood pressure
- too red or, conversely, pale skin
- weakness and lethargy
- nausea and dizziness
What to do: With a combination of all these symptoms, the victim urgently needs to be moved to a cooler environment. Optimally, a room or car with air conditioning, in extreme cases, a natural shade will do. It is necessary to remove excess clothing from it, to solder it with salted or mineral alkaline water without gas. If the body temperature does not drop, and the condition does not stabilize, you need to call an ambulance.
Stage 6. Heatstroke
How it manifests itself: With heatstroke, the victim has all the same symptoms as with heat exhaustion. Plus, neuropsychiatric symptoms are added to this: confusion, delirium, hallucinations. In some cases, the body temperature may rise up to 40 degrees, vomiting, urinary and fecal incontinence. The skin turns pale and becomes cold.
What to do: This is a deadly condition that requires urgent hospitalization. Without the provision of medical care, a person can easily die, so you need to call an ambulance immediately
You will also be interested to read:
Heatstroke: the main symptoms and first aid rules
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Injury: 4 First Aid Rules
