Heatstroke: See its causes, symptoms, prevention and more

After the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that the temperatures are increasing at a fast pace and the Environmental Protection Agency reported 1,300 deaths due to extreme heat-related issues, the question being asked is what is a heat stroke?

Heatstroke: What is it?

In scientific terms, heatstroke occurs when the outside temperature is so high and overwhelming that the body can no longer adapt and cool itself. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are along the same spectrum of heat-related disease, but heatstroke is more dangerous and fatal because the body cannot adapt anymore as the internal system is overwhelmed.

Symptoms of heatstroke

In the case of a heatstroke, a man experiences confusion, agitation and feels combative. In some cases, the patient may feel a seizure or lose consciousness. A man experiencing heat stroke will not sweat despite his body being extremely hot because all in-built mechanisms of cooling down have already failed.

Heatstroke’s Impact

The organs will start failing and the person will experience high temperature, increased heart rate, decreased urine production and high blood pressure.

Ways to prevent heatstroke

The ways to prevent heatstroke includes drinking beverages, lightly salted water or broth, slowly acclimatizing the body to warmer temperatures over time before doing so for work or sports, staying in air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas during high temperatures, wearing lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing in the heat.

FAQs:

What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke occurs when the outside temperature is so high and overwhelming that the body can no longer adapt and cool itself. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are along the same spectrum of heat-related disease, but heatstroke is more dangerous and fatal.

How can you prevent heatstroke?
The ways to prevent heatstroke includes drinking beverages, lightly salted water or broth, slowly acclimatizing the body to warmer temperatures over time before doing so for work or sports, staying in air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas during high temperatures, wearing lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing in the heat.