Heatstroke, heat exhaustion

Heatstroke, or heat exhaustion, is caused by prolonged loss of salt and water, coupled with an overload of the body's thermoregulation center. It is a severe form of heat-related illness, occurring when body temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius or higher.

According to Dr. Nguyen Viet Hau, Head of the Emergency Department at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, heatstroke has a mortality rate comparable to heart attack or stroke. Prolonged hyperthermia damages the cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, and kidney systems, and especially the nervous system, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, lethargy, altered consciousness, seizures, and even coma.

When temperatures are high, we should be mindful of outdoor activities.

According to Doctor Viet Hau, when seeing symptoms of heatstroke, the following temporary first aid measures should be taken:

• Lay the victim down with their head lower than their body.
• Move away from areas with high temperatures.
• Reduce the victim's temperature by using a fan or immersing the victim in cool water for a few minutes.
• Apply a cold, damp cloth or ice pack to areas of the body with many blood vessels, such as the forehead, back, armpits, and groin.
• At the same time, call the emergency services to have the patient transported to the hospital immediately.

In terms of symptoms, the most noticeable difference between heatstroke and heat exhaustion is that heatstroke disrupts the body's thermoregulation system, preventing you from sweating, resulting in hot and dry skin. With heat exhaustion, you still sweat profusely, leaving your skin cold and damp.

Besides heatstroke, we also commonly encounter other complications such as fainting and heat exhaustion.

Heat fainting

According to Doctor Viet Hau, heat syncope is common among people traveling in the summer, spending time in the sun, climbing mountains, moving around a lot, or participating in military training, leading to dehydration and loss of salt and water. At a certain point, excessive salt and water loss, if not replenished promptly, will cause a decrease in the volume of water in the bloodstream, resulting in low blood pressure, especially when standing, reducing blood flow to the brain and causing fainting. At this stage, other symptoms often accompany it, such as: confusion, dark urine, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Prolonged exposure to hot sunlight can lead to fainting.

Here's how we can provide first aid to someone who has fainted due to heat:

• Lie with your head lower than your body.
• Move to an area with fresh air.
• Loosen your clothing.
• Rehydrate with mineral salts.
• Monitor for about 30 minutes; if stable, there's no need to go to the hospital.

Heat exhaustion

The primary cause is prolonged loss of salt and water compared to the situations described above. The victim sweats profusely, feels chills, has cold and clammy skin, a rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, cramps, fatigue, and fainting. Prompt first aid, such as temporarily stopping activities and moving the victim to a cool, well-ventilated area, will help the body recover. Continuing activity or being unable to move to a different environment will lead to heat stroke, the most severe form of illness caused by increased body temperature.

First aid for heat exhaustion is similar to what's described above, but requires closer monitoring. Additionally, you can use cold compresses on areas with many blood vessels such as the forehead, back, armpits, and groin to absorb heat quickly and help the body dissipate it faster. Try to get the victim to drink as much water as possible. If symptoms don't improve within 30 minutes to an hour (headache, vomiting, increased dizziness, etc.), then take them to the hospital.

Some points to note

According to Doctor Nguyen Viet Hau, to prevent conditions caused by hot weather or the transition between seasons, when exposed to sunlight for extended periods or in high-temperature environments, we should take the following measures:

• Wear long-sleeved, breathable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and limit exposure to intense sunlight between 10 AM and 4 PM. If you must work or engage in activities in high temperatures, move to a cooler area every hour for a 15-minute break before returning to work.
• Be proactive in drinking water; don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. We should drink mineral-rich fluids such as electrolyte solutions for diarrhea, lemon water with added salt and sugar, etc.
• During hot weather or transitional seasons, it's important to be aware of respiratory illnesses. This is because people tend to spend too much time in air-conditioned rooms, use strong fans, or consume cold foods and drinks with ice. Such activities inadvertently dry out the mucous membranes and mucus of the respiratory tract, killing beneficial bacteria and creating favorable conditions for foreign viruses and bacteria to invade and cause illnesses such as viral infections and upper respiratory tract infections.
• High ambient temperatures easily cause food to spoil, and the proliferation of disease-carrying vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, and cockroaches can easily lead to food poisoning, especially mass food poisoning incidents.
• When temperatures rise, it leads to increased sweating and sebum production. This is especially true for children and elderly people with illnesses that require prolonged bed rest, making them more susceptible to bedsores and fungal growth in skin folds such as the armpits and groin.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/luu-y-cac-tai-bien-do-thoi-tiet-nang-nong-soc-nhiet-dot-quy-do-nhiet-1852405311515028.htm