Heat stroke is a rapidly developing pathological condition of the body, which requires urgent medical care. Other manifestations of the body's overheating are not so serious, and their development does not require immediate treatment. These include thermal convulsions and thermal overheating. It is necessary to know the basic manifestations of hyperthermia and have the skills to prevent a stroke.
Symptoms of heat stroke
The shock caused by the general overheating of the body, refers to the most life-threatening conditions. If you do not perform immediate treatment, a person may die. Compared to thermal fatigue, the specific causes of the occurrence of thermal shock are unknown. There is a blow suddenly and without warning.
It develops as a result of the body's inability to cool the body. Gradually begin to malfunction in the normal functioning of the body: sweating ceases because of the low content of fluid in the cells; the thermoregulation is broken, the body temperature rises sharply. At a critical temperature, the brain and other organs cease to function normally and a fatal outcome occurs.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- high (above 40, 5 ° C) body temperature,
- absence of sweat,
- dry and hot skin,
- cardiopalmus,
- loss of consciousness.
Athletes experience a special type of heat stroke, expressed in persistent sweating at a high (40, 5 ° C) body temperature and a change in consciousness - loss of orientation, impaired coordination of movements, confusion. If such a state does not provide timely medical assistance, it can lead to collapse and even coma. When any of the symptoms listed above are noticed, you should immediately seek help from a doctor, and reduce your body temperature as soon as possible.
Other manifestations of hyperthermia
Heat convulsions
Thermal convulsions, as one of the manifestations of hyperthermia, usually arise after intense physical exertion during a hot time - sports, chores and profuse sweating. Very severe pain, abdominal and leg cramps, profuse sweat, general weakness, nausea, dizziness - these are some of the symptoms of heat cramps.
The cause of this type of hyperthermia can also be a deficiency of sodium in the body. In this case, it is necessary to replenish the sodium supply as soon as possible, and in the future for prevention to increase the daily intake of sodium. Necessary sodium is contained in common table salt.
Thermal exhaustion
Thermal fatigue develops from long-term exposure to high temperatures. As a rule, it is very difficult to distinguish it from a heat stroke. With thermal fatigue, the loss of fluids from intense sweating is not sufficiently compensated. As a result, the volume of circulating blood decreases and vital organs begin to lack blood supply.
Characteristic for thermal fatigue symptoms: a weak pulse, headache, nausea, impaired coordination of movements, loss of orientation, pale and sweaty skin. Treatment of thermal fatigue is to ensure complete rest and very urgent cooling of the body.
Some tips for preventing hyperthermia
- It is necessary to give the body to get used to the heat - for this before training it is necessary to allocate a week of time for acclimatization.
- Thirst is a symptom of dehydration of the body. To prevent this, you need to drink more fluids, even if you do not feel like drinking.
- If there is no such need, it is better to move the training closer to the morning or evening. At this time it is not as hot as during the day.
- Clothing should be free cut, light and light colors, preferably from non-retention sweat material - flax, cotton. Very good in the heat of using Cool-Max clothing made of mesh material.
- To prevent sunburn, it is advisable to use sunscreen.
- Headgear should provide ventilation and head protection from heat.
- When playing sports with an interval of 15 minutes, you need to drink more fluids, for example, sports cocktails or just water.
- If there was a decline in strength or general weakness, it is necessary to urgently stop training, take measures to cool the body and relax.
- Drinks containing alcohol or caffeine contribute to the acceleration of dehydration. Therefore, it is undesirable to use them before and after training.
It should not be forgotten that treating hyperthermia is much more difficult than preventing.