What is a Sunstroke?

July 10, 2015

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What is a Sunstroke?

Image that says "heat stroke" and has an image of the sun

What is a Sunstroke?

A sunstroke (heat stroke) is a heatstroke caused by excessive exposure to the sun.

Why do sunstrokes occur?

A heatstroke can occur when the body's regulator cannot keep the body cool. Your body relies on water evaporation to stay cool. When temperature rises, the body responds by sweating. Evaporating the sweat cools the body down. Humidity determines how fast the sweat evaporates. If the air is dry, the sweat can evaporate rather quickly cooling your body down. If the air is very humid, the sweat cannot evaporate.

Causes of Sunstrokes

A sunstroke is caused by a failure in your body's cooling system. When the body fails to stay cool, the body becomes overwhelmed with heat. When this happens, this is when the sunstroke begins.

Contributors

Factors that may contribute to sunstroke are;

  • Age
  • Medical conditions
  • Medications
  • Dehydration
  • Prolonged exposure to the sun

Symptoms

  • Sudden dizzines
    its-so-hot
    s, weakness, or faintness
  • Sudden headache
  • Little or no sweating
  • Hot and dry skin
  • High body temperature, typically 102F (38.9C) or higher
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Muscle cramps
  • Vomiting

Prevention

  • Wear light and loose clothing. Use a hat, hut and/or an umbrella to cut off sunlight
  • Stay Hydratedwater-bottle-clip-art
  • Drink water regularly
  • Get good rest because exhaustion is a common cause of heatstroke
  • Exhaustion is a common cause of heatstroke. For the prevention of heat stroke, enough rest is necessary.