Preventing heat related illnesses

By Mark DaCosta- Many parts of Guyana, including heavily populated urban areas, are currently experiencing extremely hot weather conditions. Such heat, probably caused by climate change, is likely to get worse, experts say. High environmental temperatures are not only uncomfortable, but can be a serious threat to health. In fact, under some conditions hot conditions can result in heat stroke – a medical emergency that can cause death.

Our bodies generate or produce heat through a process called metabolic heat production. This is normal. Generally, the more active a person is, the more heat the body produces, this is why we get hot while exercising or doing strenuous work.

In healthy individuals, the body is able to maintain a stable temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius through an automatic system of thermoregulation. If the body gets too hot owing to too much metabolic heat production or high environmental temperatures, the body’s wonderful thermoregulation system kicks in, and the person begins to perspire or sweat. When this sweat evaporates from the skin it carries away heat, thereby cooling the body.

Some factors, though, can prevent the thermoregulation system from working. Those factors include a very high environmental temperature in which case the temperature difference or gradient between the body and the environment is insufficient to permit body cooling. Also, if outside humidity is high, sweat may not evaporate fast enough to cool off. Additionally, some substances including some medicines, caffeine in coffee, and alcohol interfere with thermoregulation, and could contribute to heat related illnesses. Guyanese may wish to consider avoiding caffeine and alcohol during the hottest part of the day. Also, patients may ask their doctors for advice about any medicines they use in light of the hot local conditions.

Since some vital organs cannot function normally at high body temperature, if the body overheats, a person can become ill. One common illness is heat exhaustion.

Considering the high environmental temperatures being experienced in Guyana, experts say that people should know how to prevent heat related illnesses, what are the signs and symptoms, and how to respond.

Experts say the following:

How to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke?

• drink more cold drinks, especially if you’re active or exercising

• wear light-coloured, loose clothing

• avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm

• avoid excess alcohol

• avoid extreme exercise

• if you’re inside on a very hot day, close curtains, close windows if it’s hotter outside than in your home and turn off electrical equipment and lights that get hot

This will also prevent dehydration and help your body keep itself cool.

Children, older people and people with long-term health conditions (such as diabetes or heart problems) are more at risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.

Common signs of heat exhaustion include:

• tiredness

• dizziness

• headache

• feeling sick or vomiting

• excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy or getting a heat rash. But, Guyanese should note that a change in skin colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin

• cramps in the arms, legs and stomach

• fast breathing or heartbeat

• a high body temperature

• being very thirsty

• weakness

The symptoms of heat exhaustion are often the same in adults and children, although children may become irritable too.

What to do in case of heat exhaustion?

If someone has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

1. Move them to a cool place.

2. Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.

3. Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.

4. Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.

Stay with them until they’re better.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

NOTE: If the patient’s condition does not improve, Guyanese should call for emergency medical care because the situation could be the life threatening heat stroke (which is the subject of a follow up article in this publication).