Sunstroke is a condition which occurs when the body gets overheated, as a consequence to prolonged sun exposure and / or excessive physical exertion in high temperatures. Sunstroke occurs when your body temperature rises to 104 F or more.
The condition calls for emergency management. Left untreated, sunstroke can quickly impair the heart, brain, kidneys and muscles.
How Do You Get A Sunstroke?
- Exposure to sun for a protracted period of time. Being in a very hot environment causes a rise in the body temperature. It occurs after being exposed to hot weather for prolonged intervals of time – 3 to 4 days.
- Strenuous exercise. Intense physical activity in hot weather is an important cause.
In both types, the condition is brought on by:
- Wearing too many clothes, that does not allow sweat from evaporating easily and cooling your body.
- Drinking alcohol excessively; this affects the body’s capacity to normalize the temperature.
- Dehydration plays a pivotal role.
Signs And Symptoms Of Sunstroke
- A body temperature of 104 F or more is the chief sign.
- Confusion, irritability, anxiety, slurred speech, delirium, seizures and coma
- The skin feels hot and dry.
- Pulse and heart rate will increase.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Flushed, red skin
- Rapid breathing
Home Remedies For Sunstroke
The following home remedies and guidelines may be followed to help bring down the body temperature quickly; nonetheless, it is essential to seek medical assistance. Call your health care provider promptly, since neglect can cause excessive damage to the vital organs of the body.
- Get indoors at once.
- Get rid of excess clothing.
- Put the person in a tub of cool water or have a cool shower, sponge with cold water, place ice packs or cold towels on the head, neck, and groin. It is very vital to lower the body temperature and prevent the condition from worsening.
- Re-hydration is very important. Drink plenty of fluids to help supplement the loss. What’s more, given that, you lose salt when you sweat, you need to restock salt and water with sports drinks or an electrolyte powder. In case your physician has limited your fluid and / or salt intake, you must check with him to see how much you can drink and whether you need to restore salt.
- Steer clear of sugary drinks or alcoholic beverages to re-hydrate yourself. These tend to get in the way with your body’s capacity to control the temperature. Furthermore, very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps.
Medical heatstroke treatment focuses on cooling the body to normal temperature to put off or diminish the damage to the vital organs. The doctor will take these steps:
- Submerge you in cold water.
- Use evaporation cooling techniques, such as – misting the skin with cool water whilst warm air is fanned over your body to evaporate the water and cool the skin.
- Wrap you up with ice and cold blankets to lower your temperature.
- Give you medicines to stop shivering. Occasionally, the treatments to bring down the body temperature can make you shiver, thus, the doctor will need to give you a muscle relaxant, given that, shivering raises the body’s temperature, making the treatment contra-effective.