After entering dog days, almost every day is hot. Many people who feel dizzy and nauseous wonder whether they are suffering from heat stroke or thermoplegia. What is the difference between thermoplegia that has been frequently searched recently and ordinary heatstroke? Who should take special precautions?

 

In this regard, the "Shared Doctors" program specially launched the "High-Temperature Prevention Series Science Popularization" lecture. In this issue, Gong Zheng, an emergency physician at Fujian Provincial Hospital, is invited to bring us the knowledge of the killer "thermoplegia" in hot weather.

 

 

What will happen to our body when we are in a high temperature and high humidity environment for a long time?

 

"Staying in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment for a long time can lead to core dysfunction, abnormal sweating, rise in body temperature, and dysfunction of various organs in the human body. Among them, one of the most common symptoms is the occurrence of central nervous system lesions."

 

This is how thermoplegia is initiated.

 

Thermoplegia is a fatal emergency with a high fatality rate. If timely and proper treatment is not obtained, the mortality rate can be as high as 50%.

 

Thermoplegia has three salient features:

1. High fever (body temperature over 40°C)

2. No sweat discharge

3. Confusion (unable to respond normally), convulsions (twitching of limbs), or even no response

 

 

The symptoms of ordinary heat stroke mostly include dizziness and nausea. Heat stroke will not cause confusion, high fever, and inability to discharge sweat. These are also the key differences between ordinary heat stroke and thermoplegia.

 

Can thermoplegia occur indoors? These two high-risk groups need to be cautious.

 

The first group of people at high risk of thermoplegia are those who work in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, such as sweaty workers on construction sites, traffic policemen working outdoors, and couriers. For this group of people, heatstroke prevention and cooling drinks and equipment must be fully equipped.

 

The second type is people who stay in a hot indoor environment for a long time. In the hot summer, if the air conditioning and fan are not turned on, and the doors and windows are closed tightly, the indoor temperature is also quite high. Especially for those elderly people who do not like to use air conditioning, have slow perception of environmental temperature, and have poor body temperature regulation ability, they are prone to thermoplegia due to staying in a high-temperature environment for a long time. In addition, postpartum women during confinement, young children and other groups of people need special protection in hot weather.

 

If someone around us suffers from thermoplegia, how can we help?

 

Step 1: Move the patient to a cool place and take effective cooling measures, including fan cooling, wiping with a wet towel, removing excess clothing to help dissipate heat, and replenishing water when the patient is awake.

 

Step 2: While cooling down the patient, make an emergency call in time and send the patient to the hospital for treatment in time.

 

If symptoms of premonitory heatstroke occur in daily life, how should they be judged and relieved?

 

 

During the live broadcast, many viewers asked how to judge and relieve heatstroke. According to Dr. Gong, the symptoms of premonitory heatstroke include dizziness, nausea and sweating. Patients can drink some heatstroke prevention and cooling drinks first, lower their body temperature, and replenish water, which will relieve the symptoms to a certain extent.

 

At the same time, Dr. Gong suggested that some light salt water can be added daily. Note, drink light salt water, not sugar water! Drink small amounts of water several times to keep your body moisturized.

 

For people who have the habit of exercising outdoors in summer, if they experience discomfort after exercising, especially chest tightness, they may have mild heat stroke. At this time, they need to strictly monitor body temperature, urination, and perspiration. If these indicators are normal, the physical health is still controllable. However, it is recommended to avoid exercising during high temperature periods and control the intensity of exercise.