लू लगना (Heatstroke)
Verified Our body regulates its temperature by itself. When the body gets hotter, it cools down by sweating and increased breathing and many other ways. But when someone remains in a hot environment without consuming sufficient fluid, the body may not work on the cooling process properly. This leads to a higher than normal temperature of the body. This condition is called heat illness. The primary symptoms of heat illness are a rise in body temperature accompanied by nausea, headache, vomiting, fatigue, and muscle cramps. These primary symptoms are sometimes referred to as heat exhaustion. If heat exhaustion is not treated properly and remains ignored, it can make the person sicker. This condition is called heatstroke.
Heatstroke is a serious condition characterized by an increased body temperature (hyperthermia; >40oC) that may lead to central nervous system dysfunction. The resulting outcomes are mental disabilities, shortness of breath, convulsions (uncontrollable muscle contractions), or coma (lack of consciousness). Even after hypothermia (cooling down the body temperature) or other treatments, heatstroke may result in death. Other consequences of heatstroke are toxicity to cells and organs in the entire body, kidney failure, breakdown of muscle cells, liver cells damage, heart attack, brain swelling, and various metabolic abnormalities. Heatstroke is a very complicated process, and if any symptom of heat exhaustion is found, one should visit a doctor immediately.[1-3]
TYPES
Heatstroke is categorised into two forms:[3,4]
Non-exertional stroke: This is also known as classic heatstroke. It is more commonly seen in the elderly who are not able to adjust in hot environments due to the age factor, and in persons who are having long-term illnesses. The death rate in these patients due to heatstroke is high. It develops over several days. The typical symptoms of classic heatstroke included dry skin, nausea, headache, vomiting, and deteriorating mental health. Young children are also at the risk of having classic heatstroke.
Exertional heatstroke: It is a situation in which an individual needs a medical emergency treatment. It generally develops in the young ones who exercise vigorously and have not adapted to a hot environment. A dramatic presentation of central nervous system alterations is seen, from severe headaches to seizures (a sudden and uncontrolled disturbance in the brain) and collapse. This further leads to the breakdown of muscle tissues and protein release in the blood, which causes kidney failure. Exertional heatstroke can occur within one hour of exertion and can be accelerated without exposure to high temperatures. Most of the time, it remains misdiagnosed. The typical symptoms of exertional heatstroke are wet skin and profuse sweating.
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