Last August 3, the municipality of Sto. Tomas organized a Trail Run. Regrettably, two individuals reportedly lost their lives, allegedly due to the extreme heat of the sun while traversing one of the rail tracks.
One of the victims, the husband of the Mayor of New Bataan, reportedly succumbed to traumatic brain injury, internal hemorrhage, and a cerebrovascular accident, all triggered by heat stroke, as per medical reports. It is believed that he may have experienced heat stroke while ascending the elevated section of the trail, which led to his fall from the cliff.
The second victim, a council member from Montevista, was taken home for treatment after experiencing a “seizure” along the trail. This incident was reportedly attributed to the “extreme heat of the weather.”
It may be fun under the sun but watch out. Too much exposure under the heat of the sun is hazardous to your health, warns the Department of Health.
Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, the manager of the health department’s emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases program, advised Filipinos to be wary of the health problems brought about by high temperature.
In fact, not too many Filipinos know that standing under the heat of the sun for so long may cause heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. “Heatstroke is a medical emergency,” he pointed out. “The patient must be immediately brought to the hospital after instituting emergency measures.”
“Humans, who are warm-blooded animals, maintain their body temperature within a narrow range (within one or two degrees of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) despite large fluctuations in external temperatures,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “This internal temperature range must be maintained for the body to function normally.
Body temperature that gets too high or too low can result in serious injury to organs or death.”
Heatstroke is the most severe form of heat-induced illness. “Heatstroke may occur when a person is exerting himself in extreme heat or is in a closed, hot environment,” the Merck manual explains. For example, heatstroke can develop during prolonged periods of hot weather when people stay in rooms that are not air-conditioned.
People who are most vulnerable to heat stroke are children, the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or who are taking medications that make them vulnerable to dehydration and heat strokes), athletes, and individuals who work outside and physically exert themselves under the sun.
“Heatstroke occurs because the body cannot lose heat rapidly enough in extreme heat,” the Merck manual further explains. “Because the body cannot cool itself, body temperature continues to rise rapidly to dangerously high levels. Certain skin disorders and certain drugs increase the risk.”
Heatstroke can temporarily or permanently damage vital organs, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and brain. The higher the temperature, especially when higher than 106 degrees Fahrenheit, the more rapid problems develop.
Heatstroke kills, declares Dr. Larry Kenney, an assistant professor of physiology in the Laboratory for Human Performance Research at Pennsylvania State University. A large number of well-documented cases proved fatal, he adds.
Of course, no one goes directly from feeling fine to the brink of death – no matter how hot it is. Rather, heatstroke turns lethal when signs of heat exhaustion, and later, heatstroke itself, are ignored or recognized too late, says Dr. Richard Keller, an emergency room physician at Saint Therese Hospital in Waukegan, Illinois.
Heat exhaustion is excessive loss of salts (electrolytes) and fluids due to heat, leading to decreased blood volume that causes many symptoms, sometimes including vomiting or collapse.
“Sometimes, it’s difficult to distinguish between heat exhaustion and heatstroke,” Dr. Keller says. For this reason, a person who does not respond to self-help measures for heat exhaustion within 30 minutes should be taken to the doctor.
“If you have heat exhaustion, the worst you’ll get is confusion,” Dr. Keller says. “If you have trouble walking, or become unconscious, then you’re getting heatstroke.”
Symptoms of heatstroke can be similar to those of heat exhaustion – dizziness and nausea, for instance. In addition, the person may become very disoriented and even agitated. And when the body quits regulating temperature, the heatstroke victim typically ceases sweating.
But not always. “Young people (30 and under) can sweat the whole way through,” says Dr. Keller, “provided they’re in pretty good shape.”
Fainting may or may not signal heatstroke. “If they revive quickly – say in two to five minutes – that’s more likely heat exhaustion,” says Dr. Keller, adding that seizure and coma are additional possibilities with heatstroke.
The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the authors of the Principles of Internal Medicine, suggests: “If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water and sports drinks), but avoid alcohol, caffeine (including soft drinks and tea), and tea which may lead to dehydration.”
Your body also needs to replenish electrolytes (such as sodium) as well as fluids if you sweat excessively or perform vigorous activity in the sunlight for prolonged periods. “Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself,” Dr. Fauci says. “Wear hats and light-colored, lightweight, loose clothes.”
