Heat Stroke

Heatstroke is defined as increase in body temperature or hyperthermia that exceeds 41°C or 104°F with lack of sweating associated with mental confusion

Rising pollution levels has resulted in a drastic change in the climatic conditions across the world. The summers have become harsher, thereby causing conditions which were not frequently experienced before. Heat stroke is one such condition, which has proved to be fatal to many unwary victims. It is not the condition, which is dangerous but it is the failure to recognize the early signs and symptoms, which proves to be fatal.

Heatstroke is defined as increase in body temperature or hyperthermia that exceeds 41°C or 104°F with lack of sweating associated with an altered sensorium. . It's one of the heat-related conditions like heat cramps or heat exhaustion.

Heat stroke usually results from doing heavy work in hot environments usually accompanied by inadequate fluid intake. Infants, children, obese adults and elderly people are more prone to heatstroke than young and healthy adults.

What makes heatstroke dangerous and potentially life-threatening is that the body's normal mechanisms for dealing with heat loss such as sweating and temperature control are completely lost.

This could occur in hot weather, and in some patients with pre-existing chronic diseases. If exposure to sun is the cause, then it is termed as sun stroke.

India faced the worst heat wave last century in 1998 when more than 2600 deaths took place in 10 weeks. Unofficial reports described the number of deaths to be double of this figure. Every year in tropical countries people die due to heat stroke. With some awareness these are preventable deaths.