Did you know that it's not just heat that causes heat stroke, it's also it?

Now it is a mid-volt, the sauna day is gradually singing the protagonist, as the temperature rises and the air humidity increases after entering the flood season, the number of heat stroke patients in the emergency department is also increasing.

Xinhua News Agency issued Cheng Shuo

Every year, on three volt days, discomfort, disease, and even death caused by high temperature and humidity occur from time to time, and the most important cause is heat stroke. In the past, we all felt that it was easy to suffer from heat stroke under exposure to the sun, but now we gradually know that sometimes the sauna days when the sun cannot be seen are actually easy to heat stroke. High temperature and high humidity are the two major environmental factors that lead to heat stroke. So, how do we recognize heat stroke symptoms during sauna days? What should I do in the event of heat stroke? How to effectively prevent heat stroke? We've got you covered with these questions.

1 Relative humidity > 73% is easy to cause heat stroke

Let's start with heat stroke. In the hot summer, high temperature, high humidity, strong heat radiation weather can cause the human body's body temperature regulation, water and salt metabolism, circulatory system, digestive system, nervous system, urinary system, etc. A series of physiological function changes, once the body can not adapt to this change, causing normal physiological dysfunction, it may cause abnormal increase in body temperature, resulting in heat stroke. For example, this is like a computer heating up during continuous operation, and too high temperatures slow down the heat dissipation speed, and the computer will run slower, or even crash.

In simple terms, heat stroke is related to high temperature and high humidity environment, human heat dissipation obstacles, and excessive loss of water and electrolytes. Hot weather affects the body's self-regulation mechanism for body temperature, especially when the air humidity is also large, the heat dissipation mechanism of sweat evaporation will be blocked. It should be reminded that when the average temperature of the day > 30 °C or the relative humidity > 73%, you should beware of heat stroke. When high temperature and high humidity conditions exist at the same time, the incidence of heat stroke increases significantly.

The Heat Index is a numerical value calculated using temperature and humidity. It can be known from the heat index table related to temperature and humidity that the meteorological threshold of heat stroke is "the average daily temperature > 30 °C or the relative humidity > 73%", especially when the maximum temperature of the day ≥ 37 °C, the number of people suffering from heat stroke will increase sharply. The incidence of "heat index" and "heat stroke", one of the most severe types of heat stroke, is directly and positively correlated, with an increased incidence of heat stroke when the heat index > 41 and a high susceptibility to heat stroke when the heat index > 54.

In terms of population, the elderly, infants, children, mental patients and chronic disease patients are prone to heat stroke. The reason is that the elderly and children have a weak ability to perceive and regulate temperature changes; some mental patients cannot correctly express the perception of heat and actively increase or decrease clothing, and some psychiatric drugs will interfere with the body temperature regulation function; some commonly used drugs for chronic disease patients will also interfere with body temperature regulation, in addition, some patients have the concept of "no cold", resulting in rarely turning on air conditioning in the room. Of course, this does not mean that other groups of people can sit back and relax, doing heavy physical labor or strenuous physical activity in hot weather, and healthy young people may also be recruited.

2 How to identify whether you have been recruited

Everyone's impression of heat stroke is headache, dizziness, chest tightness, nausea, etc., but its harm is not only that, hyperthermia may also damage the brain and other important organs, bring serious or irreversible consequences to health, and even lead to death.

Depending on the severity of the patient's symptoms, heat stroke can be divided into mild heat stroke and severe heat stroke.

Mild heat stroke is generally manifested as dizziness, headache, flushing, thirst, heavy sweating, general weakness, palpitations, rapid pulse, inattention, incoordination, and uncoordinated movements. Severe heat stroke includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, and can also manifest as a mixture of these three types, and in severe cases can lead to death.

Heat spasms Thermal spasms manifest as pain or twitching of the abdominal, arm, or leg muscles, usually occurring intermittently when a person is engaged in strenuous exercise and sweating profusely. Loss of salt may be the cause of spasms.

Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion refers to dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, profuse sweating, pallor, extreme weakness or tiredness, muscle cramps, fainting, and usually wakes up after a few moments after hyperthermic exposure stimulation, inadequate fluid replenishment or uneven water and salt supplementation. The patient's blood pressure drops, the pulse is fast and weak, the breathing is short and shallow, and there is mild dehydration. However, the patient's body temperature is only slightly higher or normal, and the skin may feel cold and moist to the touch. At this point, if the patient has nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting, they will lose more body fluids and the condition will continue to deteriorate, even heat stroke.

Heat stroke Fever is the most severe type of heat stroke. When high temperatures lead to dysfunction of the thermoregulation center, that is, the body is unable to regulate its own body temperature, the body temperature rises rapidly, reaching or exceeding 40 ° C in 10-15 minutes. If a patient does not receive emergency care, it can lead to death. Manifestations of heat stroke include dizziness, pulsatile headaches, nausea, extremely high body temperature (oral body temperature> 39.5°C), red, hot, and dry sweatless skin; cold intolerance; rapid, heavy pulse; confusion; slurred speech; and unconsciousness.

3 Rapid hypothermia after heat stroke is the most critical

To be able to identify the symptoms associated with heat stroke, after making a preliminary judgment, it should be treated in time so as not to aggravate the condition. Mild heat stroke is relatively simple to deal with, and patients quickly move to a cool and ventilated place, replenish water and salt, and generally improve after proper rest. For the 3 types of severe disease, the following methods can be referred to for preliminary treatment.

People with heat cramps should stop moving, sit in the shade, and drink diluted, refreshing juices or sports drinks. Even if the spasms are relieved, do not do heavy physical labor or strenuous exercise for several hours afterwards. If symptoms do not resolve after 1 hour, medical attention is required.

People with heat exhaustion should immediately rest, cool down, drink cool, ethanol-free beverages, and take a cold bath (slightly below 37 ° C) or warm water to wipe the body, or turn on the air conditioner and change into light clothing. Patients with underlying cardiac disease should bathe with cold water with caution. If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical attention in a timely manner.

Patients with heat stroke are at risk of death, and rescuers should immediately call the 120 emergency number for emergency medical help, while taking all available cooling measures. (1) Move the patient to a cool place; (2) No matter what method is used, quickly cool the patient, such as soaking the patient in cold water in the bathtub, giving the patient a cold water shower, wiping the patient's body with cool water, cool wet towel or ice pack cold compress on the patient's head, armpits and the base of the thigh; (3) monitoring the patient's body temperature, insisting on efforts to help the patient's body temperature drop to 38 ° C; (4) do not put anything into the patient's mouth, including water, because the patient has lost consciousness, the choking cough reflex is weakened or disappeared, and often accompanied by vomiting, there is a risk of food and water aspiration, If vomiting occurs, flip the patient's body to make him lie on his side to ensure that his airway is unobstructed; (5) get professional medical assistance as soon as possible.

In particular, we need to remind everyone that the above self-help measures cannot really replace medical treatment, but correct and active initial treatment can at least prevent the further deterioration of heat stroke.

4 8 precautions to keep in mind

In the hot summer, making simple changes in drinking water, behavior, clothing, etc., can effectively prevent heat stroke.

1. Drink a lot of water In high temperature weather, drink water should be appropriately increased, and do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water. If you need to exercise at high temperatures, you should drink 500-1000 ml of water per hour, a small amount and several times. Note that drinking beverages containing ethanol or high amounts of sugar can exacerbate fluid loss; drinking too cold frozen drinks may cause stomach cramps. For some patients who need to limit fluid intake, such as those with heart failure and kidney failure, drink water intake should be as directed by your doctor.

2. Pay attention to the supplementation of salt and other minerals Sweating a lot of sweating will lead to the loss of salt and minerals in the body. If you have to do manual labor or strenuous exercise, drinking sports drinks is a better choice.

3. Pay attention to diet and rest In a high temperature environment, eat less greasy and indigestible food, pay attention to supplementing protein, vitamins and calcium, eat more fruits and vegetables; sleep enough, but do not blow the fan or air conditioner when sleeping, and beware of hot colds.

4. Pay attention to sun protection Outdoor activities as far as possible to avoid high temperature periods, wear should be light, loose, it is recommended to wear light-colored clothes that absorb less ultraviolet rays, and wear a sunhat, sunglasses, and apply sunscreen (sunscreen index SPF≥15).

5. Appropriate use of air conditioning On high temperature days, try to stay in a cool environment, use air conditioning appropriately, and use less stoves to reduce the time spent in the kitchen.

6. Care for high-risk groups Pay more attention to people who are prone to heat stroke, such as the elderly (≥ 65 years old), those with underlying diseases, infants and children, and family members should confirm their health status twice a day. In real life, accidents in which the elderly living alone die at home due to heat stroke occur from time to time.

7. Don't leave your child alone in the car The temperature in the summer car can rise by nearly 7 ° C within 10 minutes after parking, and anyone left in the car at this time is at risk of severe heat stroke or even death. Therefore, parents are reminded: never leave infants or children alone in a parked car, even if there is a gap in the window; when the vehicle is parked and ready to leave, please make sure that the entourage has been dropped off, and do not forget the sleeping child.

8. Carry anti-heat cooling drugs such as Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills, Ren Dan, Ten Drops of Water, Wind Oil Essence, etc., this is just a show of hands, but it may help a lot. (Author Affilications:China-Japan Friendship Hospital)

(Original title: Heat stroke is not only caused by high temperature but also high humidity)

Source: Beijing Daily Author Du Tao

Process Editor: L022

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