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Heat Stroke - A medical emergency

Heatstroke is a condition caused by the body overheating, usually due to prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures. This most serious heat injury can occur if the body temperature rises to 104 F (40 C) or higher. The condition is most common in the summer months.

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.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-heat-102-sunburn-cases-workers-advised-to-stay-indoors-at-noon-5646247/

Symptoms

Heatstroke signs and symptoms include:

• 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 from 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 tremendously burdens your heart to help cool your body.
• Headache. Your head may throb.

Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment.

• Get the person into the shade or indoors.
• Remove excess clothing.
• 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, or use a fan while misting with cool water. Or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits, and groin.

Causes

• Exposure to a hot environment. In a type of heatstroke called non-exertional (classic) heatstroke, being in a hot environment leads to a rise in core body temperature. This 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 illnesses.
• Strenuous activity. Exertional heatstroke is caused by increased 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's most likely to occur if you're not used to high temperatures.

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

Risk factors

• Age. Your ability to cope with extreme heat depends on the strength of your central nervous system. The very young's central nervous system is not fully developed. In adults over 65, the central nervous system begins to deteriorate, making your body less able to cope with changes in body temperature. Both age groups usually have difficulty remaining hydrated, which also increases risk.
• Exertion in hot weather. Military training and participating in sports, such as football or long-distance running events, in hot weather are among the situations that can lead to heatstroke.

• Sudden exposure to hot weather. You may be more susceptible to heat-related illness if you're exposed to a sudden increase in temperature, such as during an early-summer heat wave or travel to a hotter climate.

  Limit activity for several days to allow yourself to acclimate to the change. However, you may still have an increased risk of heatstroke until you've experienced several weeks of higher temperatures.

• A lack of air conditioning. Fans may make you feel better, but air conditioning is the most effective way to cool down and lower humidity during sustained hot weather.

• Certain medications. Some medications affect your body's ability to stay hydrated and respond to heat. Be especially careful in hot weather if you take medications that narrow your blood vessels (vasoconstrictors), regulate your blood pressure by blocking adrenaline (beta blockers), rid your body of sodium and water (diuretics), or reduce psychiatric symptoms (antidepressants or antipsychotics).

  Stimulants for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and illegal stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine also make you more vulnerable to heatstroke.

• Certain health conditions. Certain chronic illnesses, such as heart or lung disease, might increase your risk of heatstroke. So can being obese, being sedentary, and having a history of previous heatstroke.

Complications

Heatstroke can result in several 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.

Prevention

Heatstroke is predictable and preventable. Take these steps to prevent heatstroke during hot weather:

• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. Excess clothing or clothing that fits tightly will prevent your body from cooling properly.
• 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.
• 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.

• 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 to 20 degrees F (more than 11 C) in 10 minutes.

  It's unsafe to leave a person in a parked car in warm or hot weather, even if the windows are cracked or the car is in the shade. Keep your car locked to prevent a child from getting inside when it is parked.

• Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. If you can't 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.
• Get acclimated. Limit working or exercising in heat until you're conditioned to it. People 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're 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, ensure medical services are available in case of a heat emergency.

?form=fpfhttps://emedicine.medscape.com/article/166320-overview?form=fpf

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21812-heatstroke

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581

Voting 2024 , some disturbing medical emergency thoughts ...

 Civil station -Kozhikode Booth 83 at 7.30 am

The queue at 9.30am without any change 

Voting at Kozhikode

As a responsible citizen, I endeavored to cast my vote at Kozhikode Civil Station Government UP School Booth number 83. I joined the queue at 7:45 am and remained there until 9:15 am. Unfortunately, the queue was at a standstill, and I was unaware of the situation inside the booth. Many individuals were postponing their voting to resolve the issue. Consequently, I also left the booth without casting my vote. Perhaps I will make another attempt later in the evening. It's worth noting that some people had been standing in the queue since 6:45 am, patiently waiting for their turn.

"After standing in line for two hours, I finally managed to cast my vote at noon on my second attempt. The queue system in Calicut was somewhat embarrassing. They allowed 3 to 4 senior citizens, 2 women, and then 1 man, which caused a significant delay in the men's queue. The management's unrealistic approach led to unnecessary issues. Overall, casting my vote this time felt like punishment."

Medical emergency thoughts -

While I was at the polling booth to cast my vote at Civilstation UP School, a lady fainted in the queue. The security personnel attempted to help her up, but I advised against it, suggesting that she should remain lying on the floor until she recovers. However, the security personnel seemed unwilling to listen to me. Interestingly, his facial expression and body language indicated amusement and implied skepticism about my expertise in managing such situations.

Today, Kerala's summer heat is at its peak, with temperatures reaching up to 41 degrees Celsius. Beware of sunburns and heat strokes while standing in queues during voting, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. If someone faints in the queue, the first possibility is syncope or fainting, which usually resolves within a few minutes if the victim lies down flat for some time. If the person does not regain consciousness, it could indicate a serious condition. Check responsiveness and breathing. If there are no movements or breathing, it may be a cardiac arrest. Initiate CPR and call for an ambulance to transport them to the hospital. Continue CPR while en route. If the person remains unresponsive but is still breathing, it could indicate various conditions such as hypotension, stroke, or hypoglycemia. In such cases, urgent hospital transfer is necessary. Do not attempt to feed orally if someone is unresponsive.

Something alarming ...

"Listening to the evening news, I observed that at least 10 people died during the election due to sudden collapses across Kerala. It's a very frightening situation."