In the summer, when the warm sun warms up, each person seeks to spend more time outdoors. And of course, soak up the warm rays that caress the skin to get a great tan. To this have picturesque places near rivers, ponds. However, remember that the sun can be not only gentle. Sometimes it becomes quite dangerous. Prolonged exposure to direct rays can trigger a sunstroke. The consequences of this condition are sometimes very deplorable. Especially if a person is untimely or incorrectly given first aid.
What is sunstroke?
This is a fairly common diagnosis in the summer. The painful condition is provoked by prolonged exposure to the open sun. It is associated with a lack of fluid intake and profuse sweating.
Sunstroke is a concept very close to heatstroke. But the last condition causes being in a very stuffy room for a long time.
If the body is exposed to heat for a long time, then thermoregulation mechanisms work. The skin begins to cool with profuse sweat. Salt is washed with it. In humans, a violation of the water-salt balance occurs. In addition, there is an imbalance in heat transfer, which leads to overheating of the body.
Especially difficult for kids up to 3 years of age is sunstroke. The consequences can be very diverse. Indeed, such crumbs have a quick metabolism, but at the same time, thermoregulation is imperfect. As a result, babies sweat very much and can lose a lot of moisture.
Reasons for the condition
Since childhood, everyone understands that a sunstroke is an extremely dangerous condition. The consequences, if timely assistance is not provided to the patient, can be very serious and even threaten his life.
What are the causes of such an unpleasant state? Doctors provide the following list of factors that often provoke sunstroke:
- Prolonged exposure to the open sun with an unprotected head (without a panama hat).
- Lack of wind and high humidity.
- Ignoring water procedures during a prolonged stay on the street in the heat.
- Lack of fluid intake.
Risk factors
In addition, it is important to understand that some people, due to the individual characteristics of the body, are most susceptible to sunstroke. Most often, pathology is observed in babies, the elderly. Pregnant women are at risk.
Often there is an unpleasant state, as well as negative consequences after a sunstroke with the following factors:
- The presence of chronic pathologies (ischemia, hypertension, thyroid disease, bronchial asthma, hepatitis, diabetes, mental illness).
- Heart attack, history of stroke.
- Tendency to allergic reactions.
- Hormonal disorders.
- Obesity.
- Hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis.
- Drug or alcohol intoxication.
- Weather dependence.
- The use of diuretics, a lack of drinking regimen.
- Excessive physical labor.
- Medication: tricyclic antidepressants, amphetamines, MAO inhibitors.
Varieties of pathology
Doctors distinguish several degrees of damage in a condition such as sunstroke. Symptoms and consequences of pathology directly depend on them:
- Easy degree. It occurs, as a rule, after 6-8 hours of exposure to the sun. Signs are not pronounced. The characteristic symptoms are dilated pupils, rapid breathing.
- Middle stage. It is easy to distinguish by impaired coordination of movement. Often, other unpleasant symptoms can occur. A person needs immediate help. Otherwise, the condition threatens to move to the next form.
- Severe degree. This stage is manifested extremely strongly. High probability of death. Severe treatment occurs only in a hospital under the supervision of physicians.
Let us consider in more detail what signs characterize each of the degrees of damage.
Mild symptoms
The signs inherent in this condition in babies are very similar to the development of inflammatory pathologies. The effects of sunstroke in children are developing rapidly. Lethargy or excessive agitation is combined with a sudden rise in temperature. If you do not take appropriate measures, then the baby can easily lose consciousness.
For a mild degree, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- headache;
- nausea;
- general weakness;
- rapid pulse and breathing;
- tachycardia;
- dilated pupils.
Signs of a moderate stage
If timely measures to provide first aid were not taken, then the patient's condition begins to rapidly deteriorate. In this case, there is a symptomatology that characterizes the moderate severity:
- intense headache;
- sharp adynamia;
- nausea, vomiting;
- stunnedness;
- uncertain movements, shaky gait;
- fainting short-term;
- hyperthermia (up to 40 degrees);
- rapid breathing, pulse;
- nosebleeds.
Severe development
This stage appears suddenly. Its occurrence is preceded by hyperemia of the face. Then, the integuments acquire a pale cyanotic appearance.
The effects of sunstroke in adults at this stage are very severe. Sudden death may occur. The mortality of the outcome in severe lesions is up to 30%.
The following symptoms are characteristic symptoms:
- the red face suddenly turns pale;
- there is a violation of consciousness (with a very severe degree, a coma may occur);
- cramps are observed;
- the patient complains of double vision;
- hallucinations appear;
- delusional state is noted;
- involuntary urination may occur;
- hyperthermia (an increase in temperature reaches 41-42 degrees).
In this case, you must immediately call an ambulance. An adult or child who has these symptoms needs immediate medical attention. Any delay is fraught with serious complications. Indeed, such a sunstroke is threatening not only health, but also the patient’s life! The consequences are too serious, so you should act quickly.
Unpleasant consequences
To understand what this condition is fraught with, it is necessary to consider the mechanism of development of complications. The sun's rays, acting on the head, heat it. As a result, hyperthermia begins to develop in the brain.
What effects after sunstroke can be observed? Hyperthermia leads to swelling of the meninges. Liquor overflows the ventricles. The patient has an increase in pressure. Arteries of the brain expand. Sometimes there is a rupture of small vessels.
The functioning of the nerve centers that are responsible for the vital functions of the body: the respiratory, vascular, is disrupted. Such an environment provokes the development of quite unpleasant consequences. They can occur immediately. But sometimes pathologies occur after a long period of time.
In severe sunstroke, the patient may experience:
- asphyxia;
- cardiovascular failure in the acute stage;
- hemorrhage (extensive) in the brain;
- heart failure.
No doctor can answer in a monosyllabic way how long the effects of sunstroke last. With a mild degree, unpleasant symptoms pass quickly. The average degree needs a longer treatment.
In severe cases, the unpleasant consequences that often arise in the long term can last a lifetime:
- regular headaches;
- difficult coordination of movement;
- neurological symptoms;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- visual impairment.
In addition, if we talk about the consequences of excessive tanning, it should be recalled that prolonged exposure to the sun increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
First aid
If you observe unpleasant symptoms in a person that characterize sunstroke, the consequences and treatment of such a pathology can be greatly alleviated if necessary measures are taken in a timely manner.
To do this:
- Call an ambulance. Such an action should be the very first. It should be understood that the arrival of doctors may be delayed. Especially if the victim is on a beach remote from the hospital.
- Move a person to the shadow. If the patient’s weight does not allow this, then it is necessary to build protection against the sun's rays over him. It can be an ordinary umbrella or any other device.
- A conscious person should be given a drink. Sunstroke is always accompanied by overheating of the body. And that, in turn, provokes dehydration. Drinking plenty of water will alleviate the condition of the sufferer. You can use any drinks: juice, water, compote. Useful mineral water without gas. Any alcohol is prohibited.
- The patient’s head must be turned to one side. In this case, it will not be choked with vomit.
- Wet compresses. They should not be icy, otherwise a person may have a spasm of blood vessels. His condition worsens significantly. Cool compresses are applied to the forehead, nape and neck. You can spray the whole body with water.
- If a person is in an unconscious state, breathing ammonia will allow him to come to his senses.
Treatment methods
The arrived team of doctors will conduct all the events that will stop the symptoms that provoked a sunstroke. How to treat the consequences of this condition, doctors will tell after the examination. If the patient has a severe form, then the person is subject to mandatory hospitalization.
The methods of treatment depend on the symptoms provoked by sunstroke:
- To restore the water-salt balance allows the intravenous injection of sodium chloride.
- If the patient has asphyxia, heart failure, then doctors make a subcutaneous injection of Cordiamine or Caffeine.
- At high pressure, the patient is given antihypertensive drugs and diuretics.
In a hospital, a full range of resuscitation measures can be used:
- intravenous infusion;
- pacing
- intubation;
- oxygen therapy;
- stimulation of diuresis.
Conclusion
Sunstroke can cause serious damage to health. After all, the consequences of this pathology are quite diverse, ranging from visual impairment to heart diseases. Therefore, in order not to encounter such sad complications, try to protect yourself and loved ones from direct sunlight.