Heatstroke and dehydration occur almost in parallel, but if you’re caught up in strenuous activities in full sun, you might not realize it right away.
Heatstroke usually occurs if you have to walk a lot through a sun-scorched area without shade, if you exert physical effort in the middle of the day, when temperatures exceed 34-35 degrees Celsius, if you stay at the beach later than 10-11 in the morning or if you don’t hydrate properly, even if you sit in the shade.
The first signs that you are getting heatstroke
When you’re working hard or sitting at the beach and you don’t realize how dangerous the hot temperatures and the sun’s rays are, it’s possible to get heatstroke. The first warning sign that you will soon suffer a heatstroke is your face turning red in color.
If you notice that your face is getting redder, take action immediately, because this is a sign that your body temperature is rising and becoming extremely dangerous for your heart and brain.
A red face from heat and exertion means that you will soon feel sick and risk severe heatstroke.
Another early sign of heat stroke is dizziness. As the body temperature begins to rise and exceeds 38 or 39 degrees Celsius, there is a worrying feeling of dizziness and fatigue, the vision may be blurred, and soon a migraine will set in.
The third sign that precedes the worst symptoms of sunstroke is profuse sweating. When the sweat runs down the back, chest or arms and legs, it is obvious that the body temperature has increased and it is trying to cool down naturally.
The worst symptoms of heat stroke
In the first phase of heatstroke, headache, nausea and vomiting usually occur. As heatstroke affects the body deeply and urgent measures are not taken to lower the body temperature, there is a risk of fainting.
- Nausea and dizziness
- Vomiting
- Faint
- Cold and clammy skin
- Migraine
- Profound feeling of thirst
How dangerous is heatstroke?
Heatstroke can lead to death in extreme cases if no action is taken to help the person who is feeling ill. If the symptoms of sunstroke do not improve within two to three hours, if the person feels increasingly worse and their temperature does not go below 38 degrees Celsius, they must be taken to the hospital, where they will be hydrated with the help of infusions.
Heatstroke can be dangerous if it reaches an advanced stage. Beyond migraines and vomiting, heart and brain function will be profoundly affected. In some cases it can even be fatal.
First aid measures
A cold shower and lots of water and refreshing lemonade with lemon and sugar to restore the balance of fluids in the body are essential. These are the first measures to reduce body temperature gradually. Avoid ice baths and extreme treatments, as thermal shock may be the result.
A cool space, shade, silence, plenty of cold water or a refreshing shower will help you recover. In case of headache or migraine, after the body temperature drops, an antineuralgic can be taken.