Heatstroke: symptoms and treatment

With the arrival of summer and high temperatures, the risk of suffering the well-known heatstrokes increases. If it is not treated properly, it can become a serious medical condition, putting life at risk if it is not dealt with in time. That is why we explain what it is, how to recognise the symptoms and how we can respond to heatstroke, whether we experience it ourselves or someone close to us does.

What is heatstroke?

Clinically, this condition may also be referred to as hyperthermia, but we will refer to it here as heatstroke. It happens when our body is unable to regulate its temperature due to very intense and prolonged exposure to high temperatures, especially in places without ventilation or with excess humidity. As a result, the body can reach 40 ºC or even more, damaging vital organs such as the brain, heart or kidneys and leading to loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of heatstroke

Being able to identify the symptoms could help us prevent or act quickly in the event of heatstroke. The most common warning signs are:

• Very high body temperature (>40 ºC).
• Hot, red and dry skin, as sweating is not always present.
• Severe headache.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Disorientation, altered consciousness or confusion.
• Rapid pulse.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Loss of consciousness or, in more serious cases, seizures.

After-effects of heatstroke

• Permanent neurological after-effects, as heatstroke can damage the brain.
• Damage to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys or liver.
• Mental changes: confusion, speech problems, irritability, delirium or seizures may persist.
• Risk of death if action is not taken in time.

How to prevent heatstroke

To prevent heatstroke, some tips that may help are:

• Keep hydrated by drinking water regularly; you do not necessarily need to feel thirsty to drink. This is especially important during the hottest hours of the day, between 11:00 and 18:00.
• Avoid direct sun exposure, especially if you are going to exercise; avoid doing so during the hottest and most intense hours, as mentioned above, between 11:00 and 18:00.
• Whenever possible, stay out of the sun in shaded areas or cool places.
• As for clothing, it is also important not to wear too many layers; light, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothes are best. Wearing hats and sunglasses will also help.

Treatment for heatstroke: how should you respond?

This may be useful both if it happens to you and if it happens to someone around you, as acting immediately and in time can be vital. If you want to know what to do in the event of heatstroke, this is the first thing you should bear in mind:

• Call the emergency services.
• Take or move the person suffering from heatstroke to a cool place, in the shade or somewhere with air conditioning.
• To help dissipate heat, it is best to remove any unnecessary clothing if needed.
• Cool the body to help balance the temperature, using damp cloths, fans and applying cold water to the neck or armpits.
• If the person is conscious, give them cool water in small amounts. In these cases, it is important to avoid sugary drinks, alcohol or very cold drinks.

Special attention

It is also advisable to take special care and precautions with certain population groups considered more vulnerable to heatstroke. These are:

• Young children.
• Older people.
• People who are unwell.
• Pets.

Remember to avoid leaving young children or pets inside vehicles, especially if they are closed. Even with the windows down, cars can reach very high temperatures.

In short, it is best to be cautious and take the preventive measures against heatstroke mentioned in this post. However, if we find ourselves facing a situation like this, the most important thing is to act immediately, whether by applying the measures mentioned or by alerting the emergency services.