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Heat Stroke
September 11, 2007
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Heat stroke is a serious illness that happens when the body is unable to control
the rapid rising temperature.
Family Physician Edward Drass explains that anyone can suffer heat stroke, but kids
can be especially susceptible, especially during the summer. Your body naturally
uses sweat, as a mechanism to keep you cool-but under some conditions sweating just
isn’t enough. “I would say that 95 degree temperatures with humidity at 70%-80%,
if you’re exercising heavily and you’re perspiring, you’re probably limited to about an hour, before you need to get into air conditioning and re-hydrate.”
Dr. Drass says that heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature rises too quickly.
Very high temperatures can damage the brain or other organs. “The problem with heat
exposure is that it runs a whole extreme from mild exposure symptoms to life-threatening.
And you can be anywhere in that process. The important thing is you have to recognize
it in order to treat it.”
Fatigue, headaches and nausea are sure-fire signs your body needs to cool off. But it’s important to prevent getting to this state of dehydration, so its important
to replenish your body’s lost fluids before you feel thirsty. “Because the actual
process of developing the heat related illness shuts down your thirst mechanism
and changes your brain’s response to the heat mode.” Dr. Drass also says.
When playing or working outside – seek shade -- shady areas can make a 20-degree
difference in your skin temperature.
Doctors say that if your body temperature rises to around 106 degrees Fahrenheit
within a span of 10 to 15 minutes you should seek emergency treatment.
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