Heat stroke can strike you unawares

If a person's body overheats due to long hours of exposure to high temperatures and the individual feels nauseatic or disoriented, immediate medical attention is a must. Reason: It could be a heat stroke that's damaging for the brain.

When mercury zooms (as it has been in the UAE), heat stroke can strike a person mostly unawares. And therefore, it is important to know its symptoms and ways to tackle it.

Dubai Municipality recently shared a video on Twitter explaining the steps one could take to avoid heat-related issues in the country.

The municipality has taken initiatives to raise awareness and educate the employers and workers about the consequences of these disorders. The municipality's focus is on companies to improve the health and safety standards for workers.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures - usually in combination with dehydration - which leads to failure of the body's temperature control system, says a webmd report.

Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is considered a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heat stroke, call medical services immediately and give first aid until paramedics arrive.
It can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Although heat stroke mainly affects people over age 50, it also takes a toll on healthy young people.

This medical emergency often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), and heat exhaustion. But it can hit you even if you have no previous signs of heat injury.

Symptoms

The symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. But fainting may be the first sign. Other common symptoms include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, and sometimes loss of consciousness or coma.

Source: Khaleej Times