A persistent rise in body temperature even above 40°C, altered mental status, muscle cramps or weakness... In hot weather, these symptoms may be symptoms of heat stroke.
Recently, high temperatures have continued in many parts of the country, and many hospitals have admitted patients with heat stroke.
"Heat stroke is the most serious case of high temperature-related emergencies, that is, severe heat stroke. Once it occurs, the mortality rate is extremely high." Zhang Shuo, an attending physician in the emergency department of Peking University First Hospital, introduced in an interview with a reporter from People's Daily Online. Under the conditions of high humidity and no wind, the human body will undergo a series of physiological changes. When the changes exceed the body's ability to bear, it will cause symptoms such as elevated body temperature, which is heat stroke.
Heatstroke can be divided into three types: threatened heatstroke, mild heatstroke, and severe heatstroke.
Among them, severe heat stroke includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Zhang Shuo said that threatened heatstroke refers to profuse sweating, thirst, fatigue, dizziness, incoordination, etc., with or without an increase in body temperature after exposure to a high temperature environment for a certain period of time.
Mild heatstroke refers to the continued aggravation of the symptoms of threatened heatstroke, the body temperature rising above 38°C, and the symptoms such as clammy and cold limbs, decreased blood pressure, and rapid pulse.
Severe heatstroke refers to a significant increase in body temperature, even exceeding 40°C, in addition to the above mild heatstroke symptoms, muscle spasms, decreased judgment, disturbance of consciousness (such as delirium, convulsions, coma), etc., which can be life-threatening in severe cases.
"Once the symptoms of heatstroke appear, we must actively respond. For patients with threatened heatstroke and mild heatstroke, they should get out of the high temperature environment as soon as possible, move to a cool place, ventilate, cool down, replenish water and salt in time, and return to normal in a short time. For severe heatstroke In addition to the above treatment, patients need to be transported to the hospital for treatment in time." Zhang Shuo said.
First aid cooling of heatstroke is the key.
Zhang Shuo said that the methods of cooling include: let the patient quickly get out of the high temperature and high humidity environment, transfer to a ventilated and shady place, and make him lie down to remove his clothes; open the window and fan to speed up evaporation and convection heat dissipation; turn on the air conditioner, put the Adjust the room temperature to 20-24°C; spray the patient with cold water or wipe the patient's body with a wet towel; immerse the patient in a cold bath with a water temperature of 15-20°C; place an ice pack or a wet towel on the patient's neck, armpit, and groin; let the patient Drinking water or sports drinks.
How to prevent heat stroke in summer?
Zhang Shuo suggested turning on the air conditioner or fan, ensuring adequate sleep, eating lightly, and replenishing water and salt in time.
When going out, try to avoid the high temperature period from 11:00 to 14:00.
People who have been in an air-conditioned environment for a long time should intentionally come into contact with some high-temperature environments, properly turn off the air-conditioning for a period of time, and go outdoors in the early morning or evening to exercise the body's heat resistance.