Heat stroke is life threatening and if immediate medical cover is not provided to the victim, death can occur instantly, as body temperature rises above 100 degrees F. This was stated by Secretary General Pakistan Society of Family Physicians (PSFP), Dr Sheharyar Bhatti, while talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
'If any person suffers heat stroke, he may become confused, combative, behave bizarrely, feel faint, while skin turns dry and hot', he said.
According to him, elderly and disabled people and those with chronic health conditions such as vascular disease or diabetes, the weather does not have to hit 100 degrees to cause heat stress or even deadly heat stroke.
Older skin also thins and offers less protection from the sun. Heart, lung and kidney diseases, and high blood pressure increase the risk for heat-related illness. Being overweight or underweight also increases risk for heat-related illness.
Dr Bhatti further said that medications taken for a variety of diseases and symptoms can also interfere with one's ability to manage hotter weather. These medications include anti-psychotic drugs commonly given to Alzheimer's patients to control agitation, anticholinergic drugs, tranquillisers, sedatives, amphetamines, diuretics and drugs to control blood pressure, antihistamines, and some anti-depressants.
To a question, he said that a person with cognitive impairment, whether from disease or injury may not be able to communicate distress. In some cases, they may not even "feel" the heat or discomfort because of changes in the brain's abilities to process sensory information or regulate their body's responses to heat.
He advised the people to wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting preferably of natural fabrics like cotton clothes and also use hats and umbrellas while moving in the open sky. He also advised the people to take plenty of water and fruit or vegetable juices even if they say they're not thirsty. People must avoid hot, heavy meals and don't use the oven in hot weather conditions. To a query, he said that headache; nausea and fatigue are signs of heat stress.