What are The Signs and Severity Levels of Heat Stroke, Which Can be Potentially Fatal? First Aid is Taught to You by a Pharmacist.

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Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when body temperature rises significantly, and is divided into three levels of severity. If suspected symptoms are observed, there is a risk of death if appropriate measures are not taken. So it is important for not only the person in question but also those around them, to notice any changes in their physical condition. In this article, we will explain the symptoms of heat stroke according to the severity level and first aid methods.

What is Heat Stroke?

Heatstroke is a general term for a variety of symptoms that occur when the body’s water and sodium balance is disrupted or the body’s thermoregulation function no longer works properly due to being in a hot and humid environment for a long period.

In the early stages of heat stroke, symptoms such as dizziness and lightheadedness are relatively mild, so patients often do not realize they have it. If it is not discovered in time and appropriate treatment is not given. It can progress to a serious condition such as loss of consciousness, so caution is required.

Severity and Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke symptoms are divided into three stages according to severity, with four pathological conditions (types): heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The following are each one’s characteristics:

[Severity I] (heat syncope, heat convulsions)

What is heat syncope? When you are active in a hot and humid place for a long time, the capillaries on the surface of your body expand to lower your body temperature, causing blood to concentrate on the surface of your body. This temporarily reduces blood flow to the brain, causing dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, etc.

Symptoms of heat syncope: Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea, pale face, temporary loss of consciousness (fainting), etc.　

What are heat cramps? When you exercise under the hot sun or sweat a lot in a hot and humid room, your body loses water and sodium. If you replenish only with water now, the sodium concentration in your blood will decrease, inducing muscle contractions, causing cramps in your limbs, muscle pain, and muscle stiffness.

Symptoms of heat cramps: Convulsions in the hands and feet (muscle twitching in the hands and feet), leg cramps, muscle pain, muscle stiffness, numbness in the hands and feet, etc.

[Severity level II] (Heat exhaustion)

What is heat exhaustion? When you sweat a lot, if you do not replenish with water and sodium, you will become dehydrated, the body will become deficient in fluids and the blood volume will decrease. This can cause loss of appetite, general fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases, shock.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion: Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, general fatigue, throbbing head pain, impaired judgment and concentration, shock state (low blood pressure, respiratory failure, loss of consciousness), etc.

[Severity level III] (Heatstroke)

What is heat stroke? Dehydration occurs in a hot and humid environment, and as it progresses, the temperature of the brain rises, causing problems with the brain’s ability to regulate body temperature. Sweating stops, body temperature rises rapidly above 40°C, and the skin becomes red and dry. Also to nausea, headaches, and whole-body convulsions, in severe cases, loss of consciousness such as coma can occur, and in some cases, death can result.

Symptoms of heat stroke: Body temperature over 40°C, inability to walk straight, loss of consciousness, body convulsions, not responding to calls, etc.

First Aid in Case of Heat Stroke

The basics of first aid for heat stroke are to move to a cool place, replenish fluids and salt, cool the body, and transport the person to a medical institution. By carrying out these four steps properly, you can prevent heat stroke from becoming severe. Please take the following measures depending on the symptoms.

Heat Syncope (Severity Level I)

Rest in a cool place, and if the person recovers and seems able to drink fluids, give them small amounts. Fainting is temporary, and in most cases, the person will regain consciousness immediately. If the person is unable to drink fluids on their own or does not regain consciousness after a while, call an ambulance.

A characteristic of heat syncope is that people often suddenly collapse without realizing it, and those around them rush to help. If you feel even the slightest bit of fatigue or dizziness when it’s hot, don’t try to endure it – move to a shady or air-conditioned place, drink fluids, and rest.

Heat Convulsions (Severity Level I)

Heat cramps are caused by a lack of salt, so it is necessary to replenish salt as well as fluids. Have your child slowly drink sports drinks, oral rehydration solution, or a drink that contains 2g of salt per 1L of water with a little sugar added to increase absorption.

Lightly massaging the area where the cramps are occurring and stretching the muscles can help. When playing sports or working in hot and humid conditions, be sure to take in not only fluids but also salt. Carrying salted candy, pickled plums, salted kelp, etc. can be useful in case of emergency.

Heat Exhaustion (Severity Level II)

In the case of heat exhaustion, first, check whether the person is conscious or breathing. If the person has lost consciousness or is behaving strangely, call an ambulance immediately. Heat exhaustion is one step away from becoming severe heat stroke (severity level III), so if left untreated, it can be very dangerous.

Also, if you confirm that the person is conscious and breathing, cool the body to lower the body temperature. If the person can drink, give them the saline solution or sports drinks to replenish fluids and salt. Even if you think they have recovered after a period of rest, stop exercising or working for that day and seek medical attention.

Heat Stroke (Severity Level III)

When a person suffers from heat stroke, symptoms include loss of consciousness, irregular pulse, convulsions, and paralysis of the limbs. Call an ambulance immediately. Until the ambulance arrives, it is important to move the person to a cool place, lay them down with their head lowered and their legs elevated, and actively cool the body. Reducing body temperature as quickly as possible can save a person’s life.

How to Cool Your Body in an Emergency

If you have heat exhaustion or heat stroke, it’s very important to cool down your body. To help you relax, try these methods:

Massage With a Wet Towel

Remove as much clothing as possible, pour cold or lukewarm water over the body, and then massage the body from the tips of the hands and feet toward the center with a towel soaked in cold water. Use a fan, a hand fan, a towel, or clothing to blow air on the body.

Cool With Ice (ice pack, ice pack, etc.)

Ice packs or ice packs can be placed on areas of the body where arteries are close to the surface, such as on either side of the neck, under the arms, or in the groin, to cool the blood.

Spray Water on Your Body and Fan Yourself

Put water or a sports drink in a spray bottle or your mouth, spray it all over your body, and then fan yourself with a fan, towel, clothes, etc. By spraying and fanning repeatedly, you can use the latent heat of vaporization (heat taken away when water evaporates) to cool yourself down.

Important Points in Daily Life to Prevent Heat Stroke

“Clothing”

Wear materials that absorb less heat from the outside and allow body heat to escape easily. Smooth cotton and linen fabrics do not constrict the body and allow air to pass between the skin and the clothing, making it easier for body heat to escape. It is also effective to leave the bottom of your shirt unbuttoned or unbutton your collar. Synthetic fibers that are advertised as being “absorbent and quick-drying” are also good choices.

“Food”

The key to building up your stamina so that you can withstand the heat is to eat a balanced diet regularly. In particular, make sure to get plenty of protein, which becomes your blood and flesh. Don’t forget to eat vegetables and fruits, which contain vitamins and minerals that keep you in good health.

If you skip meals or make do with sweets, the nutrients won’t reach your brain and body, and you may not be able to cope with the heat. Eat three healthy meals every day.

“Drinks”

Staying hydrated is essential to prevent heatstroke, but drinks that contain caffeine, such as green tea, black tea, and coffee, are not suitable for this purpose because caffeine causes the body to lose moisture.

Sweet juices and carbonated drinks also make it difficult to get enough fluids and tend to have a lot of sugar. Caffeine-free water, barley tea, buckwheat tea, and sports drinks that contain sodium (salt) are good for preventing heatstroke.

Summary

The severity of heatstroke is classified into three levels: heat syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

There are appropriate first aid methods for each, and if the person is unconscious or unable to hydrate themselves, calling for emergency transport immediately will help prevent the condition from becoming serious. It is a good idea to remember first aid methods in case of emergency.

Also, heatstroke can be prevented by following basic precautions in everyday life. Such as “avoiding the heat effectively,” “dressing appropriately,” “frequently replenishing fluids and salt,” and “preparing your body for the heat.”

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