What is a Heat Stroke?
A heat stroke or sunstroke is the result of overheating of the body as a result of exposure to high temperatures and humidity, or due to prolonged physical exertion at high temperatures.
What exactly happens to the body during a heat stroke?
- A heat stroke or sunstroke is the result of overheating of the body as a result of exposure to high temperatures and humidity, or due to prolonged physical exertion at high temperatures. A heat stroke is considered to be a medical emergency that requires prompt attention.
- “When the body fails to sweat and is therefore unable to lose heat by evaporation, there is an increase in the core temperature of the body. If the body fails to cool down, its core temperature can shoot up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit within a few minutes. This can cause severe health implications including death,” said a doctor.
- Persons suffering from heat exhaustion experience fatigue, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, hypotension (low blood pressure) and tachycardia (increased heart rate).
Humidity crucial
- However, high temperature in itself is not fatal. The combination of high temperature and high humidity, referred to as the wet bulb temperature, is what makes heatwaves deadly. High moisture content in the atmosphere makes it difficult for the sweat to evaporate and bodies to cool down, as a result of which the internal body temperature increases sharply, and is often fatal.
Sharp decline in heat-related deaths
- Monitoring and management of heatwaves has undergone a big improvement in the past few years and that has resulted in a sharp decline in deaths caused by heatwaves. Almost every vulnerable state now has a heat action plan in place, consisting mainly of early warning, provision of water and ORS at public places, and flexible working hours in offices and education institutions. Special arrangements are made for people working outdoors.
- In the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, reported heatwave-related deaths in India came down by more than 90 per cent. Heatwave fatalities had peaked in 2015, when more than 2,000 deaths were reported. This was the time when states and district administrations started implementing heat action plans. The death count dropped rapidly in the next few years, and in 2020 and 2021, only four heatwave deaths were reported, according to government figures.
- Last year, however, 33 deaths were recorded. Officials say the increase in heatwave-related deaths could also be because of improved monitoring and reporting of incidents.
More intense heatwaves
- The summer this year is predicted to be excessively hot because of the end of the strong La Nina phase in equatorial Pacific Ocean, something that has a general cooling effect on the earth’s atmosphere. New forecasts suggest that El Nino, which has the opposite impacts of La Nina, is expected to kick in from the May-July period itself, earlier than expected. El Nino also tends to result in suppression of monsoon rainfall over India. A shortfall in rains is already being apprehended, which could exacerbate the effects of a hot summer, even though the India Meteorological Department has predicted a normal monsoon.
Heat Stroke Warning
- According to the IMD, “qualitatively, heat wave is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to the human body when exposed”. In quantitative terms, the IMD’s definition is “based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal”.
- For coastal stations (like Mumbai), the IMD’s criteria for a heat wave is as follows: “When maximum temperature departure is 4.5 degrees Celsius or more from normal,…provided actual maximum temperature is 37 degrees Celsius or more.”
Do’s and don’ts if you have to go out in the heat?
* Stay hydrated. Drink water as often as possible, even if not thirsty. Always carry water with you.
* Cover yourself well. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, and porous cotton clothes.
* Use sunglasses, umbrellas or hats.
* If you are aware of underlying health issues, avoid standing under the Sun for long.
* Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks. They are not a substitute for water. If you want something other than water, carry ORS and homemade drinks.
* Avoid high-protein food.
* Use a damp cloth on your head.
Source: Indian Express
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