In the summer, when the warm sun warms, everyone tends to spend more time outdoors. And of course, soak up the warm rays that caress your skin for a beautiful tan. Picturesque places near rivers and reservoirs also have this. However, remember that the sun can be not only gentle. Sometimes it becomes quite dangerous. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause sunstroke. The consequences of such a state are sometimes very deplorable. Especially if first aid was not provided to a person in time or incorrectly.
What is sunstroke?
This is a fairly common diagnosis in the summer. A painful condition is provoked by prolonged exposure to the open sun. It is associated with a lack of fluid intake and, at the same time, profuse sweating.
Sunstroke is a concept very close to heatstroke. But the latter condition causes being in a very stuffy room for a long time.
If the body is exposed to heat for a long time, then the mechanisms of thermoregulation work. Leatherbegins to cool with profuse perspiration. Along with it, s alts are washed out. A person has a violation of the water-s alt balance. In addition, there is an imbalance in thermal transfer, which leads to overheating of the body.
Children under 3 years of age are especially hard on sunstroke. The consequences can be very different. After all, such crumbs have a fast metabolism, but at the same time thermoregulation is imperfect. As a result, babies sweat a lot and may lose a lot of moisture.
Reason for condition
Ever since childhood, every person understands that an extremely dangerous condition is sunstroke. The consequences, if the patient is not provided with timely assistance, can be very serious and even threaten his life.
What are the reasons for such an unpleasant state? Doctors give the following list of factors that often provoke sunstroke:
- Prolonged exposure to the open sun with an unprotected head (no panama, hat).
- Lack of wind and high humidity.
- Ignoring water procedures during a long stay outside 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 organism, are most susceptible to sunstroke. Most often, pathology is observed in babies, the elderly. Pregnant women are at risk.
Often there is an unpleasant condition, and alsonegative 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.
- Prone to allergic reactions.
- Hormonal disorders.
- Obesity.
- Hyperhidrosis and anhidrosis.
- Drug or alcohol intoxication.
- Meteorological dependence.
- Use of diuretics, lack of drinking regimen.
- Excessive physical labor.
- Medications: tricyclic antidepressants, amphetamines, MAO inhibitors.
Varieties of pathology
Doctors identify several degrees of damage in a condition such as sunstroke. Symptoms and consequences of pathology directly depend on them:
- Easy degree. It comes, as a rule, after 6-8 hours of being under the rays of the sun. Signs are not pronounced. Typical symptoms are dilated pupils, rapid breathing.
- Middle stage. It is easy to distinguish by impaired coordination of movement. Often, other unpleasant symptoms may occur. The person needs immediate help. Otherwise, the state threatens to move to the next form.
- Severe degree. This stage is extremely pronounced. High probability of death. Severe treatment occurs only in a hospital under medical supervision.
Let's consider morein detail, what signs characterize each of the degrees of damage.
Mild symptoms
Signs characteristic of this condition in babies are very similar to the development of inflammatory pathologies. The effects of sunstroke in children develop quickly. Lethargy or excessive excitement 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 typical:
- headache;
- nausea;
- general weakness;
- rapid heart rate and breathing;
- tachycardia;
- dilated pupils.
Signs of moderate stage
If first aid measures were not taken in a timely manner, the patient's condition begins to deteriorate rapidly. In this case, there is a symptomatology that characterizes the average severity:
- intense headache;
- sharp weakness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- stunned;
- unsteady movements, unsteady gait;
- short-term fainting;
- hyperthermia (up to 40 degrees);
- rapid breathing, pulse;
- nosebleeds.
Development of a severe form
This stage appears suddenly. Its occurrence is preceded by hyperemia of the face. The integument then takes on a pale cyanotic appearance.
The consequences of a sunstrokein adults at this stage are very difficult. Even sudden death can occur. Mortality in severe lesions is up to 30%.
Characteristic symptoms are the following symptoms:
- red face turns pale;
- disturbance of consciousness occurs (with a very severe degree, coma may occur);
- convulsions observed;
- patient complains of double vision;
- hallucinations appear;
- a delusional state is noted;
- may cause involuntary urination;
- hyperthermia (temperature rise 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. After all, such a sunstroke threatens not only he alth, but also the life of the patient! The consequences are too serious so act quickly.
Backfire
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 are the consequences after a sunstroke can be observed? Hyperthermia leads to swelling of the membranes of the brain. Liquor fills the ventricles. The patient has an increase in pressure. The arteries of the brain dilate. Sometimes there is a rupture of small vessels.
The functioning of the nervouscenters responsible for the vital activity of the body: respiratory, vascular. Such an environment provokes the development of rather unpleasant consequences. They may appear 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;
- cardiac arrest.
No doctor can give a simple answer to the question of how long the effects of sunstroke last. With a mild degree, unpleasant symptoms pass quickly. Medium degree needs longer treatment.
In a severe degree, the unpleasant consequences that often occur in the long term can persist for life:
- regular headaches;
- difficulty coordinating movement;
- neurological symptoms;
- pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- visual impairment.
In addition, if we talk about the consequences of excessive sunburn, 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 the 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 far from the hospital.
- Move a person into the shadow. If the weight of the patient does not allow this, then it is necessary to build protection from the rays of the sun above him. It can be an ordinary umbrella or any other device.
- A conscious person should get drunk. 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 banned.
- The patient's head must be turned to one side. In this case, he will not choke on vomit.
- Wet compresses. They should not be icy, otherwise a vasospasm may occur in a person. His condition will worsen significantly. Cool compresses are applied to the forehead, back of the head and neck. You can splash water all over the body.
- If a person is unconscious, inhaling ammonia will bring him to his senses.
Treatment methods
The medical team that arrived will take all the measures to stop the symptoms caused by sunstroke. How to treat the consequences of this condition, doctors will tell after the examination. If a patient develops a severe form, then the person is subject to mandatory hospitalization.
Treatment depends on the symptoms caused by sunstroke:
- Restore the water-s alt balance allows intravenous sodium chloride.
- If a patient has asphyxia, heart failure, then doctors give a subcutaneous injection of Cordiamin or Caffeine preparations.
- In case of high blood pressure, the patient is given antihypertensive drugs and diuretics.
In a hospital environment, a full range of resuscitation measures can be used:
- intravenous infusion;
- pacing;
- intubation;
- oxygen therapy;
- stimulate diuresis.
Conclusion
Sunstroke can cause serious damage to he alth. After all, the consequences of this pathology are quite diverse, ranging from visual impairment to heart disease. Therefore, in order not to face such sad complications, try to protect yourself and loved ones from the direct rays of the sun.
