the peak of this heat wave is confirmed for Monday, in particular on the Atlantic coast. In the departments in red vigilance, the thermometer will show more than 40°C.
In the event of high temperatures, the body is put to the test. When the body no longer controls its temperature and it rises rapidly, a person can suffer from heat stroke or sunstroke. And there, you suddenly feel bad: violent headaches, nausea, red skin… But so is it heatstroke? Or sunstroke?
These two terms are difficult to differentiate because they both lead to the same reaction: an abnormal rise in body temperature (hyperthermia). It is actually necessary to be interested in the conditions in which the body was a few hours before in order to be able to make the correct diagnosis. The cause is indeed different and does not depend on the same weather phenomenon: if it has been exposed in the sun for a long time without protection, we then speak of sunstroke which then also leads to heatstroke. One cannot, in reality, be differentiated from the other: sunstroke is therefore heat stroke to which sunburn is added. But if the body has only been exposed to external heat, then it is only called heat stroke.
What happens in the body?
We can therefore catch a heat stroke while being in the shade or an overheated room, just as there is also the ” exercise or exertional heat stroke which manifests itself in the same way and which is caused after too intense an effort and by poor heat evacuation (too hot and humid atmosphere or too insulating clothing).
Sunstroke can therefore only occur if the body has been exposed to solar radiation for too long, which also leads to a failure of the body’s mechanisms aimed at controlling the temperature, in particular perspiration, in such a way that it does not rise above 37.5°C.
What are the symptoms ?
The symptoms are quite similar in both cases such as a feeling of intense thirst, dizziness and dizziness, profuse sweating, very high fever, drowsiness, headaches, etc… On the other hand, if the fever is more moderate, and you feel more a strong feeling of heat in the face, stiffness in the neck, tightness in the chest or even sunburn, it would be more of a sunstroke.
Some people are more at risk of suffering from heat stroke, such as babies and children, who regulate their internal temperature less well and cannot express the feeling of thirst; old people ; people with obesity (the most affected by heat-related phenomena); athletes or people suffering from heart and respiratory diseases, and whose autonomy is reduced.
How to prevent sunstroke?
To prevent sunstroke or heat stroke, it is important to follow simple but effective actions when the sun is shining intensely, and it is accompanied by strong heat. First of all, it is essential to. It is also important to wear light and loose clothing and it is also strongly advised to stay as long as possible.
- Wear a cap or hat to cover your head and protect it from the sun’s rays
- Hydrate VERY regularly (up to 2 liters of water per day) and favor foods that hydrate
- Avoid going out during hot hours, that is to say between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. approximately (and even 11 a.m.-9 p.m. in the event of a heat wave alert).
The right things to do in case of heat stroke
If someone you know suffers from these symptoms mentioned above, it is important to know the right steps to take to relieve them and in particular to cool them down. So, remember to lay it down in a cool, ventilated place, and cover it with a damp towel. Finally, it is important to rehydrate the person by having them drink water regularly at room temperature.
>> If the person is unconscious, you must lay him in the lateral safety position and immediately call for help.
Read also :
- Heat wave: 9 ways to cool your home without air conditioning
- Heat wave: how to cool baby?
