by Artisttia Yarns

Created on: July 03, 2009

During heatstroke, the body is no longer able to sweat. Within 10 to 15 minutes, body temperature can soar as high as 104 degrees F (sometimes more). No matter the cause, heat stroke can cause permanent organ damage or death if emergency treatment is not started promptly.

Signs and symptoms that a heat stroke may be beginning are:

- Sweating will have ceased
- Fever over 103 degrees F

- Rapid, shallow breathing (hyperventilation)
- Strong pulse rate of over 130 beats per minute (normal heart rate is 60 100 per minute)
- Nausea/vomiting
- Neurological symptoms (dizziness, headache, confusion, unconsciousness)

If you see these signs and symptom, attempt to cool the victim while someone calls emergency services. Get the person to a cool spot and give them water or fruit juice to drink.

The medications (meds) taken for various illnesses can put persons at greater risk for heat stroke. Drugs that increase stimulation of hormones with in the brain (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), cause an increase in heat in the body by revving up metabolism. These are the stimulant drugs, such as amphetamines, cocaine, certain respiratory and heart medications. Psychotropic meds can effect similar hormones in the brain; therefore, those with mental illnesses that are taking these meds are at increased risk. Likely medications in this category to cause issues in the heat are haloperidol or chlorpromazine.

Medications that alter the delicate fluid balance in the body and inhibit perspiration can cause heat stroke as well. Diuretics, more commonly called 'Water pills' (such as Lasix or Bumex) and meds that Parkinson's patients are on (such as Benztropine and Trihexyphenidyl), fall into this category. Anti-nausea (anti-emetics) and meds that cause frequent urination make your body less able to regulate its own temperature.

To minimize the chance of heat stroke related to medication, ask your pharmacist if any of your medications will put you at greater risk.

Other conditions that can increase the risk of heat stroke are: the very old or those under four years of age, dehydrations, fever, sunburn, alcohol use, poor circulation, obesity, heart or lung (respiratory) disease.

A milder heat related illness is heat exhaustion. It has similar signs and symptoms to that of heat stroke; however, the symptoms are not as pronounced and the person is still sweating. Early intervention is imperative so it does not progress to heat stroke. As with heat stroke, medications are often a contributing factor to heat exhaution.

Source:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp

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