Suffering from a heat stroke can cost you your life, which is why it is considered as being a lot more serious than heat exhaustion. People who suffer from heat stroke tend to have seizures, fever and if the condition remains untreated they may even go into a coma. But the good part is that it is possible for heat stroke to be predicted and prevented. If truth be told, like any other heat related conditions out there prevention is the best defense that we have against heat stroke. A few warning signs that indicate the onset of heat stroke are:
– Excessive sweating
– Pale skin
– Rapid pulse
– Fatigue and weakness
– Fast breathing
– Nausea and dizziness
– Muscle cramps
Preventing heat stroke
Before anything else, it is highly recommended for you to wear light weight and lose fitted clothing during summers. To be able to save yourself against a heat stroke, it is highly recommended for you to stay hydrated at all times. This will allow your body to sweat, thereby assisting in the maintenance of a normal body temperature. Drinking adequate amounts of water will also help you replenish the salt that your body loses through sweating.
During the summers, it is best for you to refrain from over exerting yourself. If you have to indulge in exercise or activities that require physical labor then it is best for you to schedule these during cooler times of the day. The prevention of heat stroke further requires you to refrain from the consumption of caffeine, alcoholic or sugary beverages. This is because all these liquids speed up the dehydration process. Apart from that all such beverages have the tendency to interfere with the body’s ability to control its temperature. While you are at it, refrain from icy cold drinks as well because these can trigger severe stomach cramps.
To avoid suffering from a heat stroke it is also recommended for you to protect yourself against getting sun burnt. The fact of the matter is that sun burns have the potential to negatively impact the ability of your body to keep itself cool. For this reason, it is best for you to make use of sun glasses and hats to keep yourself protected when you are in the outdoors. Make sure that you also apply a generous amount of sun screen that contains SPF. Keep applying it every two hours, particularly if you find yourself sweating a lot.