Due to the high temperatures that are occurring in our country, the likelihood of heat stroke increases. The main risk groups are older adults, children and people who have some type of cardiovascular pathology.
Dr. Luis Herrada, head of the Emergency Service at Clínica Universidad de los Andes, comments that “those under 10 years of age have a more immature thermoregulation system than the rest of the population, while infants cannot communicate if they are thirsty.” or not, so it is more likely that they could suffer heat stroke.”
Heat stroke occurs due to different circumstances, mainly due to exposure to heat during peak hours or from performing physical activity at peak times. This is the most serious form of heat injury and occurs when the body temperature reaches 40 degrees, which can have different physiological consequences or damage to some organs.
The specialist warns that “the babies are not able to measure what they are feeling, for this reason, they must be constantly offered water and, for children under 6 months who are breastfeeding, mothers are recommended to feed them.” constantly to hydrate them.”
Symptoms can be characterized at three levels:
- Light: On some occasions, edema occurs in the extremities, cramps may appear, there is loss of consciousness and there is redness of the skin, due to vasodilation, which is increased blood circulation in the body.
- Half: fatigue, tiredness, drowsiness occur and it is possible to faint.
- Extreme: There is dizziness, irritability, painful muscle spasms, and as in adults, there is involvement of the central nervous system, where the child can convulse and end in cardiorespiratory arrest, an event that can lead to death.
“If the child presents one of these serious symptoms, they should be removed from sun exposure as soon as possible, placed in a tub with cold water, applied with cold compresses and hydrated. Furthermore, if your neurological system is affected, you faint or have gastrointestinal problems, it is advisable to take you to an emergency service as soon as possible,” says Dr. Herrada.
Tips to avoid consequences due to high temperatures:
- Cool the home by opening all windows at night and early in the morning, closing them during the day
- Drink liquids, especially water or isotonic drinks
- Do physical activity in cooler times
- Never leave children in a parked car, even with the windows open.
- Use sunscreen and reapply every two hours
- Wear a hat and glasses to protect your eyes
- Wear light, light-colored clothing that allows for greater ventilation and less heat absorption.
- Encourage the consumption of foods rich in water such as lettuce, tomato, watermelon, among others.
- Avoid carbonated or sugary drinks
- Undress newborns or infants when breastfeeding to avoid dehydration
“Following these recommendations is very important to take care of our health, especially if we consider that we will have increasingly higher temperatures and that we must learn to live with them,” explains the emergency doctor.
#Lent #time #return #God
