Sunstroke Treatment

Sunstroke, is a layman's term for the medical condition known as hyperthermia. It is a potentially dangerous condition, also referred to as heat stroke, wherein the body's heat regulating ability fails, causing elevated body temperature. If the temperatures reach serious levels, sunstroke is treated as a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment to avert the possibility of serious damage or death. Sunstroke treatment will aim at bringing the body temperature down to within the acceptable range, focusing on rehabilitation and non-exposure to external sources of heat that may further aggravate the condition. The following are causes, symptoms and treatment of sunstroke.

Sunstroke Causes
Sunstroke is primarily caused by over exposure to heat, or sun. Under normal circumstances, when your body is exposed to heat, anatomical cooling systems kick in, causing sweating or perspiration. When sweat evaporates, it cools the body, and reduces temperature. On prolonged or excessive exposure to heat, these cooling systems shut down, or cannot function properly. As the ambient temperature rises, in the absence of a cooling mechanism, the temperature of the body rises proportionately, leading to sunstroke. Another cause of sunstroke is dehydration, or a situation where the body is running low on fluid levels, which inhibits the ability to release excess heat by sweating.

Symptoms of Sunstroke
Sunstroke can manifest through a number of symptoms depending on the cause; if occurring as a result of overexposure, the signs will differ from those of heatstroke caused by dehydration. The following are some warning signs that you need to watch out for:

• Hot, dry skin. This is one of the classic sunstroke symptoms. The inability to perspire, makes the skin dry, and elevated ambient temperatures cause the body to heat up.
• Sunstroke may also be accompanied by reddening of the skin, which may signal the need for sunburn treatment.
• Rapid increase in pulse rate
• Fast, shallow breathing
• Nausea, headaches and dizziness, these are predominantly linked with dehydration
• Muscle cramps

As the situation progresses, there may be violent or hostile behavior, incoherent speech patterns, confusion or hallucinations, leading to a loss of consciousness. At this stage, immediate sunstroke treatment is critical.

Treatment and Prevention
As the symptoms are linked with the causes, sunstroke treatment will also follow the same course. Treatment for sunstroke is closely linked with heat exhaustion treatment, which occurs when the elevated body temperatures are accompanied by fatigue, exhaustion and collapse. Remember that sunstroke is a medical emergency and needs to be treated as such. The priority is to lower body temperature, and this is done in the following ways:

• Remove the affected person to a cool place immediately
• Loosen clothing, or remove altogether
• Immerse the person in a tepid water bath to immediately lower ambient temperature; immersion in very cold water is counterproductive.
• Application of ice packs and sponging the body down can also aid in reducing body temperature until it enters the normal range, however, care must be taken to ensure that the affected person is not wrapped in cold sheets or towels as this will trap the heat further.
• In the case of sunstroke is caused by dehydration, fluid, salt and electrolyte levels must be replenished either intravenously or orally. This condition can also cause lack of blood supply to the brain and need for emergency heat stroke treatment is imperative to prevent serious consequences.

If you experience mild symptoms of sunstroke, self care can help avert progression. The first step to take is to get out of the sun immediately. Removing constrictive clothing will bring relief. Drink something cold, preferably with both sugar and salt, but sip slowly instead of gulping down, and stay away from caffeinated beverages and alcohol. If possible, take a cool shower, this will further help in bringing down temperature, if not, use a cool cloth to wipe down your face, arms and neck. You could also try lying down with your legs elevated above your head, to help improve blood circulation.

Taking certain precautions can reduce the risk of sunstroke. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, so it's advisable to take special care during sun exposure. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially during summers and in the afternoon hours when heat intensity is especially high. Wear cool, non constricting clothing, to allow your body to 'breathe', and allow sweat to evaporate. Drink plenty of water as a rule, but particularly during periods of exercise and exertion. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen, to reduce the possibility of sunburn and skin irritation. Give yourself time to acclimatize to a new place, if you are unused to high temperatures, and limit sun exposure.

Sunstroke treatment needs to be administered as soon as possible. It is a medical emergency that requires professional care, and depending on the severity, hospitalization may be required. Simple precautions can be taken to avoid this condition, so stay sun safe and stay healthy!