19 July 2022 – 15:00
Heatstroke is caused by excessive exposure of the head and neck to solar radiation and heat. In simple terms, a heat stroke is an increase in body temperature, the heat balance becomes disrupted. The body temperature can rise to 40 or 41 degrees. The bright sun disrupts the body temperature: your temperature rises while your body is no longer able to dissipate the heat.
With a sunstroke, the body has become too warm and too dry. This can cause complaints such as: headache, dizziness, vomiting, a very warm skin, sweating a lot, feeling weak.
With a heat stroke you have too high a body temperature due to too much sunlight and too much solar heat. This is life threatening.
The risk of heat stroke is increased in people with a bald head, children, the elderly, physical exertion in a warm environment and with a high UV index where the sun is extra strong. In addition, there is often a fluid deficiency as a result of perspiration and or drinking too little. This can lead to heat exhaustion. If the heat stroke is severe, the body temperature rises and heat stroke occurs.
Main symptoms of a :
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
The treatment of heat stroke consists of avoiding the sun, taking the victim to a cool room and letting him drink some isotonic sports drink, possibly supplemented with some chips. Since heat stroke can turn into heat exhaustion, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, one should keep a close eye on the symptoms. If improvement does not occur quickly, professional help should be called in.
Differences between heat stroke, overheating, heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Due to an increase in body temperature or Overheating a range of complaints can occur and syndromes arise, which can be observed in a sliding scale. In case of heat injury, the body is no longer able to regulate body temperature and to adequately lose heat. Some of these syndromes are bothersome, but usually not serious. Others can lead to life-threatening symptoms and, if not cooled in time, can lead to the death of the victim.
Hittecollaps
Heat collapse, just like a normal syncope or fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness as a result of an insufficient supply of blood and therefore oxygen to the brain. However, the cause of a heat collapse is different: as a result of the heat, all the vessels in the skin are open to dissipate heat, causing the blood pressure to drop and the cerebral blood flow to decrease.
As with ‘normal’ fainting, there is initially a feeling of light-headedness and then a short-term loss of consciousness. In addition, there may be headache, nausea and fatigue. The skin is often moist and can be pale as well as red and warm. The victim sweats a lot. It is essential that the victim is clear immediately after waking up, in contrast to heat stroke where there is (permanent) confusion.
heat stroke
A heat stroke (also called heat stroke) is a very serious heat injury, which can lead to death in a short time if not or too late intervention. The body temperature has risen to such an extent (above 40°C) that damage occurs to tissues and organs. Heat stroke is a severe form of heat stroke. This can cause a person to become unconscious and eventually die. It can knock someone unconscious and eventually die. Normal operation is disrupted and the damage is often irreparable. If this process is not interrupted in time, the victim can die from organ damage. Heat stroke is seen more often in the elderly because the body does not respond adequately to the changes and they do not drink enough. In addition, it can occur during intense exercise in a warm environment, where the mechanisms to lose heat are inadequate.
Main signs and symptoms:
- High body temperature > 40° C
- Neurological dysfunction, such as: confusion, restlessness, bizarre behavior, loss of consciousness, loss of consciousness, staggered walking
- Classic heat stroke: red dry warm skin, usually no perspiration
- Exercise-related heat stroke: pale clammy skin (if during or after exercise), often called perspiration
- Epileptic seizure
- Fast heart rate (120-200/min)
- Rapid breathing, breathing disorders
The most important part of the treatment of heat stroke is to alert quickly and start cooling quickly. Cooling is essential to prevent aggravation of the damage to the cells. The most effective method of cooling a heat stroke victim is immersion of the body (excluding the head) in a bath of cold water (cooling bath). However, this method must be performed by healthcare professionals who have been trained in this, because in heat stroke there are disturbances in the vital functions that make specialist care necessary. Alternative methods (less effective than a cooling bath) include cold packs in the armpits, groin and neck, sponging with cold water, and covering the victim with wet cold sheets. The victim should be placed on its side so that as large a surface as possible can be cooled and that the heat release to the environment is optimal. The victim must be taken to a cool room and may be cooled by means of air conditioning or fans. It is essential to continue to monitor vital signs. If possible, measure body temperature every 5 minutes while cooling. Measurement with an ear thermometer can underestimate the body temperature, the most reliable is measurement with a rectal thermometer.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Congestion
Heat exhaustion and heat congestion (also called heat exhaustion) often occur at high ambient temperatures or during strenuous exercise with clothing that is too warm (marathon runners) around the body. The body temperature rises above the normal range, but by definition does not exceed 40°C. Both images have a similar cause: a great effort has been made in warm ambient temperatures and a shortage of moisture and salts has arisen as a result of moisture loss through sweating and evaporation through breathing. Sometimes heat exhaustion is preceded by heat cramps. If the fluid loss is not sufficiently supplemented by food and drink, exhaustion occurs. The image is partly created by dehydration. Athletes often only drink (a lot of) water, but this is not enough, they should supplement both fluids and sugars and salts during the effort.
Heat exhaustion gives a flu-like picture, there is a lot of thirst, weakness and malaise, fatigue, headache, nausea and sometimes vomiting and there may be pain or cramping in the muscles. The victim is sweating profusely and has cool, clammy skin. Breathing is often accelerated. The body temperature has risen, but not above 40°C. A heat collapse may occur. If the victim’s skin is warm, red and congested, there is heat congestion. Sweat production may be reduced or normal. If the victim goes to a cooler room, sweat production usually starts well. Often there are also complaints such as heat exhaustion: headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can progress to heat stroke. Signs of this are the reduction or stop of sweating, bizarre behavior and an increase in body temperature above 40°C.
The treatment of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is the same. In the first place, the victim is taken to a cool room and removed from (too) warm clothing. Have the victim lie flat if necessary. In addition, fluid deficiency is supplemented by drinking isotonic sports drinks with the addition of salts and sugars (for example, with salty chips). You can also use ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution), but this is relatively expensive and tastes bad. Continue to monitor vital signs regularly and see if the victim develops any signs of heat stroke. If necessary, cool the victim with sponges, but be careful not to hypothermia. If the victim does not recover quickly, professional help should be called in.
Other diseases that are the result of tropical temperatures and/or heat
Heat Edema
With a sudden change in temperature, during very hot days. Or, for example, during a trip to a warm country. The body will then start to retain fluid, resulting in swelling (edema) of body parts. This is especially the case in the hands, ankles and feet and will especially occur in the first few days of staying in warm weather. The elderly are sensitive to this and are more likely to experience these complaints when sitting still for a longer period of time, such as during a plane or bus trip. As one becomes more accustomed to the temperature, or becomes ‘acclimatised’, the swellings will decrease.
There is no specific treatment for heat edema other than proper acclimatization and elevation of the affected body parts. There can also be other causes of edema in the hands, ankles and lower legs. If the swelling does not subside within a few days, a visit to the doctor is necessary
Heat rash (heat rash)
Sometimes heat causes a rash in the body folds or all over the body. This is called a heat rash and is caused by blockage of the sweat glands due to excessive sweating. This rash is often itchy or stinging but harmless. In walkers, this is sometimes also seen on the lower legs. Heat rash is usually best treated with cooling, which reduces the itchiness.
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Editorial Medicalfacts/ Janine Budding
I studied physiotherapy and health care business administration. In addition, I am a registered Independent client supporter and informal care broker. I have a lot of experience in various positions in healthcare, the social domain and the medical, pharmaceutical industry, nationally and internationally. And have broad medical knowledge of most specialties in healthcare. And of the health care laws from which health care is regulated and financed. Every year I attend most of the leading medical conferences in Europe and America to keep my knowledge up-to-date and to keep up with the latest developments and innovations. I am currently doing a Masters in Applied Psychology.
My messages on this weblog do not reflect the strategy, policy or direction of an employer, nor are they the work of or for a client or employer.
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