How dangerous is sunstroke and heatstroke?

The hot weather and high temperatures in recent days have easily caused many people to suffer from sunstroke and heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.

Heatstroke is a condition of increased body temperature due to exposure to high environmental temperatures or excessive physical activity, exceeding the ability of the thermoregulatory center to regulate, leading to a disorder in the ability to control body temperature. Heatstroke often occurs in the afternoon when there are many infrared rays, combined with working in places with high temperature, humidity, and poor ventilation.

Heatstroke can develop into sunstroke. This is a condition of severe hyperthermia (over 40 degrees Celsius) accompanied by dysfunction of organs such as the nervous system, circulation, and respiration due to the effects of heat or excessive physical activity.

Heatstroke often occurs at noon when the sun is hot and harsh and there are many ultraviolet rays, combined with working in hot, humid weather with poor air circulation.

How dangerous is heatstroke? — **Illustration photo.**

Early mild signs include: rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, red skin, possibly sweating, accompanied by dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, and nausea.

More severe symptoms if not treated promptly include: Hypotension, neurological dysfunction including altered perception, agitation, delirium, confusion, convulsions and coma. When body temperature increases too high, it also causes severe electrolyte disturbances, homeostasis disorders, and possible bleeding (conjunctival hemorrhage, hematuria, bloody stools) due to severe blood clotting disorders, and even more severe is multiple organ failure leading to death.

Dr. Dang Hoang Diep, Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, warns: "Heatstroke and sunstroke often occur in the summer, especially on hot days when the temperature suddenly increases. Heatstroke and sunstroke not only make us tired, dizzy, have headaches... but heatstroke and sunstroke can also lead to stroke; if not treated promptly, it can lead to irreversible neurological sequelae or multi-organ damage and death."

How to deal with sunstroke, heatstroke:

- The period of 1 hour after severe heatstroke or sunstroke is called the "golden time" for emergency treatment. Therefore, when providing emergency treatment for heatstroke or sunstroke, it is necessary to pay close attention to initial emergency treatment at the scene.

- When encountering someone with sunstroke or heatstroke, we must immediately take the patient to a cool, airy place (a shady place, a cool car or house...) and call for support, especially emergency support.

- Clear the airway, perform artificial respiration and chest compressions if the patient is comatose and cannot detect a pulse.

- Immediately apply cooling measures to lower body temperature.

- Measure body temperature if you have a thermometer.

- Remove clothes and apply warm water to the patient, then use a fan to increase evaporation; the patient should lie on his side or be supported in a position with his hands supporting his knees so that the skin surface can receive as much wind as possible.

- Apply cold towels or ice packs to armpits, groin, and neck.

- Give plenty of water or electrolyte solution if the patient is alert and able to drink.

- Transfer the patient by air-conditioned vehicle or open the windows, the transport process continues to cool the patient's temperature.

Le Hoang/VOV.VN

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