What's the difference between heat stress and heat stroke: What are the warning signs and how should you act?

Weather of Arabia - In the United States, health complications related to extreme heat kill more than 600 people each year, and this is more than the total number of victims of hurricanes, floods, lightning and other weather disasters.

The good news is that the health risks caused by extreme heat can be avoided, but it's important to identify warning signs and act quickly and appropriately when they arise.

What is the difference between heat stress and heat stroke?

Heat stress: It is a precursor to heat stroke and is a direct result of the high body temperature.

Symptoms of heat stress:

• heavy sweating
• rapid heartbeat
• dizziness
• Tired
• Cold and moist skin
• goosebumps
• muscle cramps
• Nausea and headache

These symptoms may develop over time or appear suddenly, especially during or after periods of prolonged exercise. And when heat stress is not treated, it may lead to heat stroke, which is considered the most dangerous disease associated with hot weather because it can lead to death.

Heatstroke : Heatstroke is avoided when the body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius or higher, and at this temperature, it can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles, leading to serious complications or death, so medical attention should be sought immediately when heatstroke occurs. .

Heat stroke symptoms:

• high body temperature
• Change in mental state or behavior
• Nausea and vomiting
• skin redness
• rapid breathing
• Rapid heartbeat.

In general, a person with heat stress sweats a lot, while in the case of heatstroke , the person stops sweating and is completely dry, and this is a good general rule that helps differentiate them, but it is not always correct.

Read also: This is what heat waves can do to the human body

How should you act when someone suffers heat stress?

If heat stress is suspected, the patient should be taken out of the hot yard and cooled if possible. This can be done by keeping it out of the sun and removing or loosening tight clothing, spraying the body with water or placing ice packs in the armpits and groin area.

In addition, it is important to treat dehydration by drinking plenty of water and avoiding drinks that contain caffeine or high amounts of sugar.

And if you or someone else has sunstroke, seek medical attention right away.

How can health risks associated with hot weather be avoided?

• Know the warning signs: It is important to know the symptoms of heat stress and heatstroke to avoid them. If you are aware of any of the above symptoms, go to a cool place, rest or seek help if you are having difficulty moving around.

• Don't depend on the body's ability to adapt: Understand that the body adapts to heat, but it will take days for the body to acclimatize, so if you haven't been used to the heat for weeks or months, be aware that your body will not deal with it the right way before it acclimatizes.

• Keep the body hydrated: Moisturizing the body in advance helps maintain a safe body temperature, so try in hot periods to drink more water and not only when you feel thirsty, the body feeling thirsty means that it is dry.

• Respond immediately if you start to feel sick: If you start to feel sick, or you are not feeling well, get out of the sun and seek shade where you find some cool air blowing towards you, this will help lower your temperature.