With the current drastic changes in weather, the increase in heat temperature has become alarming, particularly affecting the northern region, which suffers greatly from hot wind monsoons, causing temperatures to rise to as high as 42 degrees Celsius. This could be another factor that may lead you to “heat stroke”, a novel disease of the modern era that may take your life and those around you.
Heat stroke is a condition where the body temperature exceeds 40.5 degrees Celsius due to being in very hot environments, and the body cannot adjust to cool down to normal levels. This negatively impacts the nervous system, heart, and kidneys, potentially leading to death.
The causes of heat stroke include being in extremely hot environments, especially in humid heat or engaging in strenuous exercise, particularly in hot environments. Other risk factors that may trigger heat stroke more easily include wearing clothes that are too thick, making it hard to sweat, consuming alcohol, dehydration, and drinking less water.
Groups of people more likely to suffer from heat stroke than others include young children and the elderly (over 65 years old), who adapt slowly to changes and are at risk of dehydration more easily, soldiers undergoing rigorous training, or athletes who must play sports in extreme heat, those unfamiliar with hot weather, such as travelers to hotter countries or those experiencing monsoon storms, those on certain medications including some blood pressure medications, diuretics, psychiatric medications, antihistamines, decongestants, laxatives, amphetamines, and cocaine, and those with heart disease, lung disease, obesity, or previous heat stroke experience.
Symptoms of heat stroke that you may notice or check easily include body temperature exceeding 40.5 degrees Celsius, abnormal nervous system symptoms like restlessness, delayed speech, confusion, seizures, delirium, loss of consciousness, dysfunctional sweat glands like being in very hot environments without sweating, nausea, vomiting, reddened skin and face, fatigue, rapid breathing, palpitations, unusually fast pulse, headache, kidney failure, dark colored urine, and elevated muscle enzymes.
Initial first aid before urgently taking to the hospital includes bringing the patient out of the sun, moving to a shaded area, removing unnecessary clothing, cooling the body with methods such as spraying with cold water, wiping with cold water especially around the nape, joints, and groin, blowing a fan with cold mist, air conditioning, drinking water, and electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration and loss of electrolytes.
Additionally, there are simple ways to prevent heat stroke, such as wearing breathable and light clothing to allow the skin to dissipate heat more easily, using sun shields like umbrellas, broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and applying sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, at least 8 glasses a day, avoiding parked cars under the sun where the temperature can rapidly rise to 50 degrees Celsius within half an hour, never leaving children in the car, taking periodic breaks in the shade especially during the hottest times of day in the afternoon, exercising at the coolest times of day, which are early morning and evening, if unused to hot weather, such as when newly relocating to a hotter country, avoiding heavy work or intense exercise initially until the body becomes accustomed to the increased heat, if aware of being in a heat-stroke risk group, like having pre-existing conditions, being elderly, or on risky medications, monitoring oneself, performing initial first aid if starting to have symptoms resembling heat stroke, and immediately going to the hospital.
Compiled by
Dr. Phromphrarin Pruksakorn
Endocrinology and Metabolism Specialist
Internal Medicine Clinic | Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai
