Friday, March 30, 2007 Summer Advisory: Drink plenty of water to avoid heatstroke
PROVINCIAL Health Officer (PHO) Luisa Efren has warned the public against over exposure to extreme heat of the sun as it may lead to hyperthermia or heatstroke.
Efren said heatstroke is an acute condition, which occurs when the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate.
"It is usually due to over exposure to extreme heat of the sun and is prevalent during the summer season," she added.
Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, two less-severe forms of hyperthermia, heatstroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.
The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, and body temperature climbs uncontrollably.
Efren said, "Everyone is advised to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, which is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or make sure to bring some protective clothing or an umbrella everytime you go outdoor."
She warned that a heatstroke may lead to more serious illness such as diarrhea and intense headaches that can sometimes mimic a heart attack or other conditions.
"Persons may sometimes experience symptoms of heart exhaustion before progressing to heatstroke. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps and aches, and dizziness," she said.
Web research showed that the most susceptible to heatstroke are infants, the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or on certain medications that make them vulnerable to heatstroke), and athletes, or outdoor workers physically exerting themselves under the sun.
Different people, however, may have different symptoms and signs of heatstroke.
But common symptoms and signs of heatstroke includes high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure and coma.
Aside from wearing protective gears, Efren said, heat strokes can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and juices to replenish the fluid loss and using moisturizers to the skin.
"For athletes, although their sweat usually set a cooling effect on the body, it is still advisable for them to drink glasses of hydrite or oresol solution to avoid dehydration and diarrhea," she added.
