The Dangers of Heat Stroke

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By: Robert Nickel
Submitted May 16th 2011 & consists of 1068 words.
Located in our collection of health-issues articles.

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Summer is fast approaching and it is time to look at ways to cool your outdoor environment. No one wants to be cooped up at home all summer, even if it is air conditioned! Then again being out in the hot sun for too long can cause serious health issues. It is definitely worth considering a method of cooling for your outside space, after all, heat stroke can kill.

Technically, heat stroke starts doing damage when body temperature rises above 105.1F. Normal body temperature for an adult or child (not the elderly) is about 98.6F, so even when you are feeling a little warm on a hot day your body temperature is already rising. The difference between a fever and heat stroke is simple: a fever indicates the body has increased the temperature set point as a means to fight infection.

Heat stroke is an increase in body temperature without the ability for thermo-regulation. In other words, the body knows it is hot but cannot bring the temperature down. With a fever, the body is controlling when the fever will ‘break’ or cease. Therefore when there is a suspected case of heat stroke, it is imperative that the body is cooled from the outside. We will go into the subject of treating heat stroke a little further on.

Let’s assume the person with a suspected case of heat stroke has not yet realized they are in danger. In fact, most of those who suffer or die from the illness never know they are sick until it is much too late. For this reason alone it is important to know the signs and symptoms, and watch for them in the people around you. Obviously no one can go around sticking a thermometer in everyone’s mouth checking to see if their body temperature is climbing too high. However there are a few easy to spot signals of impending heat stroke.

As the body becomes hotter, blood vessels dilate in an effort to release heat, therefore the skin becomes red. Red and swollen lips are a great indicator of something going on. When the body tries to cool itself, it releases perspiration. If that doesn’t bring the temperature down, the skin begins to feel dry – especially in the mouth and eyes. On the other hand, it is very important to note that babies, small children and the elderly do not have the ability to sweat. Their thermo-regulation signals are not fully functional, so they cannot cool the body. It is up to the adult caring for the child or elderly to keep them cool and hydrated, regularly touching the skin to assess their body temperature.

If dehydration is accompanying the heat stroke, the individual will feel nauseous, may vomit, and may have a bad headache and very low blood pressure. In extreme cases of heat stroke the person may appear intoxicated when they try to stand or walk, and become easily confused. These symptoms are due to the lack of oxygen in the blood and being supplied to the heart. Blood pressure drops drastically, which then causes the blood vessels to contract. As the blood vessels contract, blood is pulled away from the extremities causing the skin to appear bluish. These advanced cases of heat stroke symptoms lead to seizures (especially in children), organ failure, unconsciousness and eventually, coma.

Treating a mild to moderate case of heat stroke is as simple as removing clothing, drinking water, resting in a cool place and sponging water on the head, neck and torso. These passive techniques are very effective for releasing heat from the body while not initiating a shock to the system through cooling too fast. Immersing the body in a tub of cool water can cool the core quickly, but will cause constricting of blood vessels and arteries.

Once the body has cooled down it can reset its thermo-regulation patterns. For advanced cases of heat stroke where the individual is unconscious, confused, or experiencing hypothermia, much more invasive medical treatments are required to prevent further damage. Intravenous hydration may be required, gastric lavage with iced saline or even dialysis. Permanent injury to the brain is common among those with extreme heat stroke.

The best way to treat heat stroke is through prevention. Be aware of the signs and symptoms. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Drink lots of water, not juice. Wear appropriately cool clothing for the outdoor temperature. Create a cooling environment around your home. If your family will be spending a lot of time on the deck or in the yard, consider a misting system or fan. Especially with children running around the backyard, the misting fan will keep them cool and hydrated without drenching them. It is a great investment in peace of mind during the long hot summer months.

There is nothing quite like cooling off from the hot sun by standing under a misting outdoor fan! Koolfog specializes in enhancing any outdoor environment, from private homes and restaurant patios to fairgrounds and animal stables – they know how to cool off! Visit their site for more information.

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN' 'http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd'><html><head><title>Health Hub Articles | The Dangers of Heat Stroke</title></head><body><h3>The Dangers of Heat Stroke</h3> By: Robert Nickel Summer is fast approaching and it is time to look at ways to cool your outdoor environment. No one wants to be cooped up at home all summer, even if it is air conditioned! Then again being out in the hot sun for too long can cause serious health issues. It is definitely worth considering a method of cooling for your outside space, after all, heat stroke can kill. Technically, heat stroke starts doing damage when body temperature rises above 105.1F. Normal body temperature for an adult or child (not the elderly) is about 98.6F, so even when you are feeling a little warm on a hot day your body temperature is already rising. The difference between a fever and heat stroke is simple: a fever indicates the body has increased the temperature set point as a means to fight infection. Heat stroke is an increase in body temperature without the ability for thermo-regulation. In other words, the body knows it is hot but cannot bring the temperature down. With a fever, the body is controlling when the fever will 'break' or cease. Therefore when there is a suspected case of heat stroke, it is imperative that the body is cooled from the outside. We will go into the subject of treating heat stroke a little further on. Let's assume the person with a suspected case of heat stroke has not yet realized they are in danger. In fact, most of those who suffer or die from the illness never know they are sick until it is much too late. For this reason alone it is important to know the signs and symptoms, and watch for them in the people around you. Obviously no one can go around sticking a thermometer in everyone's mouth checking to see if their body temperature is climbing too high. However there are a few easy to spot signals of impending heat stroke. As the body becomes hotter, blood vessels dilate in an effort to release heat, therefore the skin becomes red. Red and swollen lips are a great indicator of something going on. When the body tries to cool itself, it releases perspiration. If that doesn't bring the temperature down, the skin begins to feel dry - especially in the mouth and eyes. On the other hand, it is very important to note that babies, small children and the elderly do not have the ability to sweat. Their thermo-regulation signals are not fully functional, so they cannot cool the body. It is up to the adult caring for the child or elderly to keep them cool and hydrated, regularly touching the skin to assess their body temperature. If dehydration is accompanying the heat stroke, the individual will feel nauseous, may vomit, and may have a bad headache and very low blood pressure. In extreme cases of heat stroke the person may appear intoxicated when they try to stand or walk, and become easily confused. These symptoms are due to the lack of oxygen in the blood and being supplied to the heart. Blood pressure drops drastically, which then causes the blood vessels to contract. As the blood vessels contract, blood is pulled away from the extremities causing the skin to appear bluish. These advanced cases of heat stroke symptoms lead to seizures (especially in children), organ failure, unconsciousness and eventually, coma. Treating a mild to moderate case of heat stroke is as simple as removing clothing, drinking water, resting in a cool place and sponging water on the head, neck and torso. These passive techniques are very effective for releasing heat from the body while not initiating a shock to the system through cooling too fast. Immersing the body in a tub of cool water can cool the core quickly, but will cause constricting of blood vessels and arteries. Once the body has cooled down it can reset its thermo-regulation patterns. For advanced cases of heat stroke where the individual is unconscious, confused, or experiencing hypothermia, much more invasive medical treatments are required to prevent further damage. Intravenous hydration may be required, gastric lavage with iced saline or even dialysis. Permanent injury to the brain is common among those with extreme heat stroke. The best way to treat heat stroke is through prevention. Be aware of the signs and symptoms. Stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Drink lots of water, not juice. Wear appropriately cool clothing for the outdoor temperature. Create a cooling environment around your home. If your family will be spending a lot of time on the deck or in the yard, consider a misting system or fan. Especially with children running around the backyard, the misting fan will keep them cool and hydrated without drenching them. It is a great investment in peace of mind during the long hot summer months. There is nothing quite like cooling off from the hot sun by standing under a <a href="http://www.koolfog.com/misting-systems/">misting outdoor fan</a>! Koolfog specializes in enhancing any outdoor environment, from private homes and restaurant patios to fairgrounds and animal stables - they know how to cool off! 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