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Heatstroke Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of heat stroke are:
Body temperature climbs to 40.5°C or higher, Headache, Nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances, altered mental state whereby dizziness, irritability, confusion, progression to seizures and unconsciousness is possible, rapid pulse rate, Flushed and unusually dry skin. Sweat can be present in exertional heatstroke.
Recognition of heatstroke symptoms is vital to allow prompt medical attention. If the patient isn’t cooled immediately, the high body temperature will damage the tissue of almost every organ. Muscle meltdown (rhabdomyolisis) and blood clotting (thrombosis) often accompany heatstroke.
A survey of several heatstroke patients showed that all suffered from multiorgan dysfunction. About half had kidney problems and showed symptoms of blood clotting. More than half had breathing difficulties and required intubation, where a tube was inserted to help them breathe. Most survivors recovered to almost normal conditions, but a third were left with permanent organ failure or permanent brain damage.
Heatstroke is the most dangerous of all heat-
A healthy person is not likely to succumb to heat and high humidity unless that person increases their body temperature during work or exercise in hot conditions. The elderly and the very young with a deficient or underdeveloped heat regulation mechanism, however, are always at risk to suffer from heatstroke, with or without physical activity. Chronic illnesses, genetic makeup and some types of medication can also increase the risk.
The term sunstroke is often used in place of heatstroke. Heatstroke is an overexposure to heat, no matter whether you are in the sun, the shade, or indoors. Sunstroke, on the other hand, is caused by overexposure to the sun’s radiation. Direct radiation to an unprotected head with sparse or no hair cover penetrates the skull and irritates the outer layers of the brain. At the same time, the head overheats if the blood circulation is insufficient to carry the excess heat away. Babies are at particular risk. Their skull is still very thin and membranes are the only cover for the openings between the bony structures (fontanelles).