The Heat Of The Matter
Dehydration, heat strokes, heart diseases. A way to fight them.
Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be life-threatening if left untreated. Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible - make sure your body retains sufficient hydration during hot months.
The combination of heat stress, dehydration and exercise imposes perhaps the most severe physiological challenge for the human body. Under normal conditions we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears, urine and stool. When a person becomes sick with fever, diarrhoea or vomiting - or if an individual is overexposed to the sun - dehydration occurs. This is caused when the body loses water content and essential body salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium bicarbonates and phosphate.
What are the common symptoms of dehydration?
The most common symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth and increased heart rate and breathing.
In children additional symptoms may include dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for more than three hours, sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks, high fever and irritability.
What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower the body temperature. It is a condition that may develop rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.
What causes heat stroke?
Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.
What are the common symptoms of heat stroke?
The most common symptoms of heat stroke (although each individual may experience symptoms differently) include headache, dizziness, disorientation or confusion, sluggishness or fatigue, seizure, a high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat and hallucinations.
Treatment of dehydration and heat stroke
Since dehydration will impair work performance and increases the risk of heat injury, consumption of fluids and electrolytes such as oral rehydration salts (ORT) are necessary to prevent dehydration and enhance performance. In the case of children, the amount of fluids and electrolytes will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to consult your pharmacist or paediatrician.
The combination of heat stress, dehydration and exercise imposes perhaps the most severe physiological challenge for the human body. Under normal conditions we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears, urine and stool. When a person becomes sick with fever, diarrhoea or vomiting - or if an individual is overexposed to the sun - dehydration occurs. This is caused when the body loses water content and essential body salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium bicarbonates and phosphate.
What are the common symptoms of dehydration?
The most common symptoms of dehydration include thirst, dry skin, fatigue, light-headedness, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth and increased heart rate and breathing.
In children additional symptoms may include dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, no wet diapers for more than three hours, sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks, high fever and irritability.
What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower the body temperature. It is a condition that may develop rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.
What causes heat stroke?
Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.
What are the common symptoms of heat stroke?
The most common symptoms of heat stroke (although each individual may experience symptoms differently) include headache, dizziness, disorientation or confusion, sluggishness or fatigue, seizure, a high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat and hallucinations.
Treatment of dehydration and heat stroke
Since dehydration will impair work performance and increases the risk of heat injury, consumption of fluids and electrolytes such as oral rehydration salts (ORT) are necessary to prevent dehydration and enhance performance. In the case of children, the amount of fluids and electrolytes will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to consult your pharmacist or paediatrician.
The Heat Of The Matter
The Heat Of The Matter
The Heat Of The Matter
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