HYPERTHERMIA HYPERTHERMIA HYPERTHERMIA  

Being hot for too long can cause many illnesses, all grouped under the name hyperthermia.

Who Is at Risk?ss

Hundreds of people die from hyperthermia each year during very hot weather. Most are over 50 years old. The temperature outside or inside does not have to hit 40° C for you to be at risk for a heat-related illness. Health problems that put you at risk include:

•  Heart or blood vessel problems, poorly working sweat glands, or changes in your skin caused by normal aging.

• Heart, lung, or kidney disease, as well as any illness that makes you feel weak all over or causes a fever.

• High blood pressure or other conditions that make it necessary for you to change some of the foods you eat. For example, if you are supposed to avoid salt in your food, your risk of heat-related illness may be higher. Check with your doctor.

• Conditions treated by drugs such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some heart and blood pressure medicines. These may make it harder for your body to cool itself by perspiring.

• Taking several drugs for a variety of health problems. Keep taking your prescriptions, but ask your doctor what to do if the drugs you are taking make you more likely to become overheated.

• Being quite a bit overweight or underweight.

• Drinking alcoholic beverages.

Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach area, arms, or legs. Cramps can result from hard work or exercise. While your body temperature and pulse usually stay normal during heat cramps, your skin may feel moist and cool. Take these cramps as a sign that you are too hot — find a way to cool your body down. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, but not those containing alcohol . For more, please read the Heat Cramps article.

Heat edema is a swelling in your ankles and feet when you get hot. Putting your legs up should help. If that doesn’t work fairly quickly, check with your doctor.

Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that may come on when you are active in the heat. If you take a form of heart medication known as a beta blocker or are not used to hot weather, you are even more likely to feel faint when in the heat. Putting your legs up and resting in a cool place should make the dizzy feeling go away.

Heat exhaustion is a warning that your body can no longer keep itself cool. You might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated, nauseated, and sweat a lot. Your body temperature stays normal, skin feels cold and clammy. Your pulse can be normal or raised. Resting in a cool place, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting medical care should help you feel better soon. If not, this condition can progress to heat stroke. For more, please read the Heat Exhaustion article.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion often begin suddenly, sometimes after excessive exercise, heavy perspiration and inadequate fluid intake. Signs and symptoms resemble those of shock and may include:

• Feeling faint

• Nausea

• Heavy sweating

• Ashen appearance

• Rapid, weak heartbeat

• Low blood pressure

• Cool, moist skin

• Low-grade fever

Management of heat exhaustion

• Get the person out of the sun and into a shady or air-conditioned location.

• Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly.

• Loosen or remove the person's clothing.

• Have the person drink cool water, not iced, or a sports drink containing electrolytes.

• Cool the person by spraying or sponging him or her with cool water and fanning.

• Monitor the person carefully. Heat exhaustion can quickly become heatstroke. If fever greater than 102 F, fainting, confusion or seizures occur, dial 0-0-0 or call for emergency medical assistance

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is an emergency — it can be life threatening! You need to get medical help right away. Getting to a cool place is very important, but so is treatment by a doctor. Many people die of heat stroke each year. Older people living in homes or apartments without air conditioning or good airflow are at most risk. So are people who don’t drink enough water or those with chronic diseases or alcoholism. For more, please read the Heat Stroke article.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of heat stroke can sometimes mimic those of heart attack or other conditions. Sometimes a person experiences symptoms of heart exhaustion before progressing to heart strokes. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps and aches, and dizziness. However some individuals can develop symptoms of heat stroke suddenly and rapidly without warning.

• Fainting, possibly the first sign,

• Body temperature over 40° C,

• A change in behaviour — confusion, being grouchy, acting strangely, or staggering,

• Dry flushed skin and a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse,

• Not sweating, despite the heat, acting delirious, or being in a coma.

• high body temperature

• the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin

• rapid pulse

• difficulty breathing

• strange behaviour

• hallucinations

• confusion

• agitation

• disorientation

• seizure

• coma

Management of Heat Stroke

Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage.

• First and foremost, cool the victim.

• Get the victim to a shady area

• Remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for example you may spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose)

• Fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation

• wrap in a wet sheet

• Place ice packs under armpits and groins.

• Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 39 degrees.

• Always notify emergency services 0-0-0 immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim.

• if unconscious place in the lateral position and monitor airways, breathing and circulation.

The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated, and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water and Gatorade), but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, and light coloured, and light and loose clothes.