Sunstroke : Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The most common health problem during summer months is Sunstroke or Heatstroke. Sunstroke is a severe and life threatening condition where the heat regulating system fails in our body due to excessive exposure to high temperatures or production of excessive heat in the body. The person with sun stroke will stops sweating due to failure in heat control system. Particularly children up to age 5 and adults over 65 are more vulnerable because they cannot adjust to heat like others. Prolonged heatstroke sometimes may damage heart, brain, muscles and kidneys. In severe conditions, sunstroke can even damages the brain and function of organs leading to death.

Causes:

Excessive exposure to sunlight
Working in extreme hot environment.
Excessive consumption of alcohol
Failure of heat regulating system
Heavy clothing
Humidity
Dry air
Excessive sweating
Excessive exercises or workouts
Excessive loss of water from our body i.e dehydration
Symptoms:

Listed below are some of the most commons symptoms :

Extreme rise in body temperature (up to 106°F) 41°C
Dizziness
Headache
Lack of sweating
Unconsciousness or sometimes Coma
Nausea
Weakness
Swollen face
Muscle cramps
Fainting
Vomiting
Fast Breathing or difficulty in breathing
Rapid pulse
Fits
Dark colored urine
Dry skin
Who is at Risk of Sunstroke?

People with obesity or over weight
Infants and Younger children
Old age people
Heart patients
People with uncontrolled diabetes
Alcoholism
Undergoing certain temperature regulating medications
People who are known to be more sensitive to excessive heat.
High blood pressure patients
People with Kidney diseases
Sunburns
People with sleeping deprivation
Person with sunstroke before are at higher risk.
Emergency steps to treat Sunstroke victim:

Sunstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect someone with sunstroke call for a doctor or an ambulance. But before that follow some important first-aid steps listed below

First get the person into a cool shady area preferably to a air conditioned room.
Remove any unnecessary clothing and cover the body with a wet towel or involve the victim in a cool shower or bath to bring down the high temperature.
If the victim is conscious offer him to drink fluids like juice and cool water.
Never give beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine.
Place ice packs to the victim’s armpits, neck and back side.
Slow down the cooling treatment when the person starts shivering which in turn raises core temperature.
Check the victim’s temperature every 20-30 minutes.
Have a continuous look on breathing system, if you find any sign of failure in breathing then get ready to give mouth to mouth resuscitation i.e. rescue breathing.
Consult your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible.
Preventive Steps:

Follow the below guidelines to prevent from sunstroke or heat stroke-

The first best step is to stay in a shady cool room when the temperature is extremely high.
Prefer to wear loose and light colored clothes, preferably cotton clothes.
Always use umbrella while going outside and wear a wide hat.
Drink lots of water even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Drink 8-10 glasses of water and fruit juices per day to prevent dehydration.
Schedule your exercising time early in the morning or after sunset.
Avoid consuming fluids that contains alcohol or caffeine because they dehydrate the body.