What Is Heat Stroke?

When the human body overheats, a condition referred to as heatstroke can be triggered. This is generally due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or as caused by physical exertion in hot weather.

When your body temperature goes as high as 104 F (40 C) or higher, the most severe form of heatstroke or heat injury can be triggered.

Heatstroke happens most often in the summer.

When you are diagnosed with heatstroke or when you observe any symptoms from below, seek emergency treatment and medical attention.  When left untreated, heatstroke has the potential to swiftly damage the your heart, muscles, brain, or kidneys.

When the damage worsens as a result of delayed treatment, it can increase the your risk of getting serious complications or even death.

Symptoms of Heatstroke include but not limited to the following:

• High body temperature: Once the body temperature starts reading 104 F (40 C) or higher, this is major sign of heatstroke with the resulting effect of high body temperature.
• Change in behavior or mental state: You may suffer signs of irritability, confusion, seizures, coma, agitation, incoherent speech, among others.
• Sweating pattern altered: Heatstroke can leave the patient’s skin feeling really hot and dry or slightly moist to the touch.
• Nausea & vomiting: You may be likely to feel sick in your stomach or feel like vomiting.
• Reddened skin: The patient’s skin may turn out red as his or her body temperature rises.
• Hurried breathing: Breathing may become too rapid & shallow.
• Speedy heart rate: Your pulse may pointedly rise above normal since heat condition puts tremendous burden on the heart’s functions.
• Headache: You may also suffer throbbing head.

If you discover any of the above heatstroke signs, you may need to seek medical attention. See the long term effects of heat stroke.

You can as well prevent heatstroke by wearing loose fitting clothes, avoiding sunburn, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking extra precautions with certain drugs.