What Are the Different Types of Heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a common condition in hot summer seasons. Severe heatstroke can lead to fainting, nausea, and vomiting. If heatstroke symptoms are severe, immediate medical attention is required. In case of heatstroke, it is important to leave the high-temperature environment promptly. The affected person should rest in bed, drink plenty of warm water, and wear fewer clothes in hot environments. Heatstroke can be classified into three types. Let's take a closer look at them.
(1) Heat Cramps: This occurs due to excessive sweating and insufficient salt intake during exercise, leading to a decrease in blood sodium concentration, increased muscle excitability, and muscle spasms.
(2) Heat Exhaustion: It occurs when engaging in intense physical activity or labor in hot weather, resulting in excessive sweating. The faster the exercise intensity, the faster the rate of sweating. If drinks are not replenished promptly, it can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, blood concentration, and increased blood viscosity. Coupled with vasodilatation and insufficient blood volume, it can cause circulatory failure.
(3) Heatstroke: This occurs when exercising in direct sunlight without proper head protection. Prolonged exposure to visible light and infrared radiation can penetrate the scalp and skull, causing cerebral congestion, edema, and brain tissue damage. While the temperature of the brain tissue can reach 40-42°C, the body temperature may not necessarily rise.
Heatstroke is an acute illness that occurs in hot and humid environments, typically during the summer season. It is caused by dysfunction of the temperature regulation center, failure of the sweat glands, and excessive loss of water and electrolytes. Heatstroke mainly manifests as central nervous system and cardiovascular dysfunction. Based on clinical manifestations, heatstroke can be classified into prodromal heatstroke, mild heatstroke, and severe heatstroke. Severe heatstroke is further categorized into heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, with heatstroke being the most severe type.
1. Increased heat production: This can occur in hot and humid environments with poor ventilation, insufficient cooling measures, or intense physical labor.
2. Decreased body heat dissipation: High ambient temperature and humidity, poor ventilation, and dysfunction of the sweat glands can contribute to this.
3. Decreased heat tolerance: Elderly individuals, postpartum women, and patients with underlying cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases may have relatively weaker heat tolerance and are more susceptible to heatstroke in the same environment.
