The response of the emergency doctor François-Xavier Moronval.
Insolament and heat stroke are particularly frequent in summer, when temperatures increase. The body is vulnerable during hot weather and has a lot of trouble getting used to it. We use the two terms without distinguishing them but is it really the same? The two phenomena occur following a prolonged exposure to heat without sufficient hydration. This exposure has the consequence of increasing body temperature and causes several symptoms to try to regulate it, including headache, excessive sweats, dizziness and fever, which can go as far as discomfort.
“For me, the sunstroke and the hot stroke is the same” answers us the emergency doctor François-Xavier Moronval. “The symptoms are similar and they have the same consequences.” A small difference still exists in the mechanism in question. “In the insolation, there is the notion of sun exposure” underlines the emergency doctor. The insolation is caused by an excessive accumulation of heat in the body following this exposure. The hypothalamus, a gland located in the cranial box which manages, among other things, the stability of body temperature, increases heat. This is called hyperthermia. Insolation can also be accompanied by a sunburn. It occurs when the person has not protected (sunscreen, cap).
While in the hot stroke, there is not necessarily exposure to the sun. The hot stroke is when the body overheats without necessarily being exposed directly to the sun’s rays. The body temperature climbs beyond 40 ° C because it is exposed to a warm and humid room temperature, with or without direct sun.
Whether for insolation or heat stroke, prevention remains the same: drink water regularly, cover your head, do not stay in the sun, stay in fresh and ventilated rooms and put yourself in the shade. The reaction to a person victim of insolation and heat stroke is also the same. It is necessary to place it in the shade or in a cool place, to encourage it to drink small quantities of water in a fractional way, to refresh it with a fan and wet cloths on the body and to monitor the signs of loss of consciousness. In case of discomfort, call the 15th.
