The past few weeks have been extremely hot in Anguilla, and there are predictions that the heat will continue until September this year. The possibility of severe complications from exposure to severely high temperatures is very likely. One of these complications is heatstroke.
What is heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a condition caused by your body overheating – usually as a result of prolonged exposure to, or physical exertion in, high temperatures. This most serious form of heat injury, heatstroke, can occur if your body temperature rises to 104 F (40 C) or higher.
Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed – increasing your risk of serious complications or death.
Heatstroke is often preceded by heat exhaustion. The vast majority of heatstrokes can be prevented.
What causes heatstrokes?
Heatstroke can occur as a result of:
• Exposure to a hot environment. In a type of heatstroke called nonexertional (classic) heatstroke, being in a hot environment leads to a rise in core body temperature. This type of heatstroke typically occurs after exposure to hot, humid weather, especially for prolonged periods. It occurs most often in older adults and in people with chronic illness.
• Strenuous activity. Exertional heatstroke is caused by an increase in core body temperature brought on by intense physical activity in hot weather. Anyone exercising or working in hot weather can get exertional heatstroke, but it is most likely to occur if you are not used to high temperatures (for instance many of our visitors from North America and Europe).
In either type of heatstroke, your condition can be brought on by:
• Wearing excess clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating easily and cooling your body
• Drinking alcohol which can affect your body’s ability to regulate your temperature
• Becoming dehydrated by not drinking enough water to replenish fluids lost through sweating
What are some symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke?
Heat exhaustion is the precursor to heatstroke and is the body’s response to overheating, often caused by a loss of water and salt.
Heat exhaustion it can lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea, but symptoms will generally improve when your body cools down.
Symptoms may include the following:
? Headache
? Dizziness and confusion
? Loss of appetite and feeling sick
? Excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
? Cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
? Fast breathing or pulse
? Temperature of 38C or above
? Intense thirst
Symptoms of heatstroke include the following:
• High body temperature. A core body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher, obtained with a rectal thermometer, is the main sign of heatstroke.
• Altered mental state or behavior. Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke.
• Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry. However, in heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel dry or slightly moist.
• Nausea and vomiting. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit.
• Flushed skin. Your skin may turn red as your body temperature increases.
• Rapid breathing. Your breathing may become rapid and shallow.
• Racing heart rate. Your pulse may significantly increase because heat stress places a tremendous burden on your heart to help cool your body.
• Headache. Your head may throb.
When to see a doctor
If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help. Call 911.
You should take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment:
• Get the person into shade or indoors and raise their feet slightly
• Remove excess clothing
• Get them to drink plenty of water or re-hydration drinks if possible
• Cool the person with whatever means available — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person’s head, neck, armpits and groin
• Stay with them until they feel better or until medical help arrives
Complications of heatstrokes
Heatstroke can result in a number of complications depending on how long the body temperature is high. Severe complications include:
Vital organ damage. Without a quick response to lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause your brain or other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage.
Death. Without prompt and adequate treatment, heatstroke can be fatal.
How to prevent heatstrokes?
Heatstroke is predictable and preventable. As a result of the high temperatures recently, and predictions for continuing high temperatures, the risks for health strokes in Anguilla is high. Residents of Anguilla are encouraged to take steps to prevent heatstroke during the hot weather that we are now experiencing. Some of these include the following:
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
• Protect against sunburn. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself, so protect yourself outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or sweating.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated will help your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature. Drink water every two hours, even if you are not thirsty.
• Take extra precautions with certain medications. Be on the lookout for heat-related problems if you take medications that can affect your body’s ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat.
• If you have a chronic disease and take drugs, consult your doctor.
• Never leave anyone in a parked car. This is a common cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in 10 minutes.
It is not safe to leave a person in a parked car in warm or hot weather, even if the windows are cracked or the car is in shade. When your car is parked, keep it locked to prevent a child from getting inside.
• Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. If you cannot avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, drink fluids and rest frequently in a cool spot. Try to schedule exercise or physical labor for cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening. Avoid sun exposure between 11 am and 4 PM as much as possible.
• Get acclimated. For our visitors especially, limit time spent working or exercising in heat until you are conditioned to it. People who are not used to hot weather are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. It can take several weeks for your body to adjust to hot weather.
• Be cautious if you are at increased risk. If you take medications or have a condition that increases your risk of heat-related problems, avoid the heat and act quickly if you notice symptoms of overheating. If you participate in a strenuous sporting event or activity in hot weather, make sure there are medical services available in case of a heat emergency.
Conclusion
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are preventable conditions. Exposure to heatwaves that may occur in Anguilla at this time may result in these complications from heat injury. Reactions to heat depend on each person’s ability to adapt. In some cases, serious effects can occur quite suddenly. During these coming weeks all of us must stay tuned to weather alerts and forecasts and take measures to prevent heat exhaustion and heatstrokes.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-six years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5928).
