As the summer sun heats things up, we want to ensure you and your loved ones stay safe from the dangers of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that arises when your body can no longer control its temperature. Unlike a sunburn, which affects the skin, heatstroke affects your entire body and moreover can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Heat stroke is known to be the most severe form of heat-related illness. It occurs when your body overheats, typically as a result of prolonged exposure to or exertion in high temperatures. When this happens, your body’s temperature regulation system fails, and it can no longer cool itself down through sweating. This rapid rise in body temperature can damage your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. Early intervention is critical in preventing serious complications or even death from heatstroke.
Causes of Heat Stroke
There are two main types of heatstroke:
- Exertional Heat Stroke: This type typically occurs during strenuous activity in hot and humid environments. Athletes, construction workers, and anyone exerting themselves outdoors in high heat are at an increased risk.
- Nonexertional Heatstroke: This type can affect anyone, especially infants and older adults, who are exposed to hot and humid conditions for extended periods, even without physical exertion. This can happen when someone is left in a parked car on a hot day or lives in a building without proper air conditioning during a heat wave.
Certain factors can increase your risk of heatstroke, including:
- Age: Infants as well as older adults are more susceptible.
- Chronic illnesses: Underlying health conditions like heart disease, obesity, and high blood pressure can worsen the effects of heatstroke.
- Certain medications: Diuretics, antidepressants, and some medications for blood pressure can affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature.
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough fluids can significantly increase your risk.
- Alcohol or drug use: These substances can impair your body’s ability to cool itself.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect someone who is suffering from heatstroke, call emergency services immediately. Pay attention to these critical warning signs:
- Body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher
- Hot, red, dry, or flushed skin
- Changes in mental state: confusion, disorientation, agitation, seizures, or coma
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Rapid breathing or heartbeat
- Headache
Homeopathy Treatment for Heat stroke
Few Homeopathic remedies help you in heat strokes are-
- Gelsemium: It covers drowsiness, headache, weakness and comatose states mostly after sun exposure. Gelsemium is indicated for Sunstroke, when patient feels dull and drowsy. In such cases, there is weakness along with trembling. The patient may feel dizzy and confused. Gelsemium works well when there is vertigo with a blurring of vision. Vertigo with heaviness of head, band like feeling around mostly occipital headache. In most cases, the patient may feel better on lying down.
- Belladonna: This remedy is effective against sudden shooting headaches along with red face and dry mouth. Belladonna is good remedy for sunstroke with congestion of face and head. The patient requiring medicine Belladonna will experience burning sensation on the face, a severe congestive headache, and redness in the eyes. The patient may faint due to weakness. The skin feels hot, red, and dry, and the complaints may aggravate with the least movement.
- Glonoinum: It is the most indicated remedy where the patient has a severe, sudden headache with a throbbing sensation. The patient complains of heaviness in the head, and a feeling that the head is about to burst. In most cases, the pain in the head may get better after sleeping.
- Camphora: Camphora is commonly used for conditions associated with collapse, fainting and shock. It is also employed for ailments related to extreme coldness, such as chills, cramps and spasms. Camphora can be beneficial for symptoms characterised by icy coldness, trembling and a feeling of being “at death’s door.” This remedy can be helpful for a rash that comes from sun exposure and is also used in sunstroke. There is a feeling of general coldness and sensitivity, despite which the person does not want to be covered.