A walk in the park, a lunch on the terrace, an afternoon at the beach … The body can quickly find itself in overheating without anyone noticing. The heat stroke, particularly feared when temperatures increases, occurs when the body temperature rises excessively. Some people must be particularly careful: “We don’t all have the same heat tolerance” Recalls Dr. François-Xavier Moronval, emergency doctor. When the body no longer manages to regulate its internal temperature, it is necessary to act quickly but well.
When it is too hot, the body reacts to return to a normal body temperature (37 ° C). Several symptoms then occur. “There is not a particular symptom but several, and they are progressive” continues Dr. Moronval. Among them: headache, feeling of discomfort, dizziness, tremors, intense thirst, fever, chills. If these alert signals are neglected, they can evolve towards a loss of consciousness or even severe hyperthermia, with a body temperature exceeding 42 ° C. This is an exceptional situation, but at vital risk. “Symptoms are less noticeable in young children and the elderly.”
The first reflex in the event of a heat stroke is to hydrate yourself. It’s very good but “attention” warns the emergencyist. “You should never hydrate yourself in large quantities too quickly but Rather drink in small quantities in a fractional way. “ Excessive ingestion of water over a short time can promote hyponatremia characterized by an abnormally low sodium (salt) concentration in the blood. The body receives an excessive water supply that dilutes sodium in the blood. Hyponatremia can cause serious neurological disorders such as headaches, nausea, confusion, even a coma. In severe or poorly taken care, it can cause potentially fatal brain edema and requires emergency hospitalization.
Drinking too much water suddenly also reduces the good hydration of the body, the water is eliminated too quickly to be used well by the cells. Avoid ice water that can cause digestive cramps or even vomiting, worsening the risk of dehydration. Faced with a person who is undergoing hot, is confused, has dizziness … You have to call 15 (Samu). To prevent a heat stroke, you have to wear a hat, stay in the shade, avoid alcohol, use sun protection and above all, do not wait to be thirsty to drink. “Often we think we are vigilant, but we are not that much” concludes the specialist.
Thank you to Dr François-Xavier Moronval, emergency doctor, author of “emergency profession” at Stock editions and presenter of the YouTube channel “Doc FX.”
