What Is Heat Stroke?
October 21, 2009
Heat stroke, also known as an advanced symptom of hyperthermia is referred to a condition in which the temperature of body raises to life threatening levels together with occurrence of several bodily as well as psychological symptoms.
It is essential to provide immediate medical aid to person affected from heat stroke to prevent loss of life. The people most vulnerable to get affected by heat stroke are newborns, old age people, sportspersons, and people indulged in intense activities direct under sun.
The two main causative factors for development of heat stroke are dehydration and direct exposure to sun or high heat for elongated period. Under normal conditions, continuous heat is generated in body due to metabolism and functions of other organs.
This heat is expelled by body in the form of sweat however, when body is exposed to extreme hot surroundings or direct under sun for elongated period, the temperature of body starts mounting which further reduce functionality of body defense system.
Heat Stroke signs and Symptoms
The major symptoms of heat stroke comprises of nausea, vomit, weakness, severe pain in forehead, muscle cramps, body ache, faintness, high fever, redness of skin, breathlessness and impaired vision.
Treatment of Heat Stroke
It is of utmost significance to provide immediate medical aid to the person diagnosed of heat stroke to prevent harm to vital organs of body. Given below are a number of steps that should be followed to prevent progression of condition.
First of all, the affected person should be moved to a cool area. All clothes should be removed to facilitate better eradication of heat from body.
Ice packs along with cold water bottles should be placed under armpits and on several portions of body. In absence of ice packs, cloth soaked in water can also be used to stabilize the temperature of body.
In case of no sweating, patient should be provided with several glasses of water for consumption to promote sweating and prevent dehydration.
These efforts ought to be repeated till the time temperature of body drops to 100-102ºF. It is recommended to contact an accredited medical practitioner immediately, if the body of affected person does not demonstrate any improvement with in a span of 20 minutes.
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