Heatstroke Symptoms And Treatment: Everything You Need To Know

Heatstroke can be dangerous and come on more quickly than you realise. With temperatures rocketing, it’s important to know how to recognise the signs.

Spending too much time in the heat or overly exerting yourself in the sun can cause heatstroke.

During the heatwaves we’ve increasingly experienced in recent years, health officials have reiterated how important it is to prevent children and older people from falling victim to the high temperatures.

But do you know how to tell heat exhaustion from heatstroke?

Heat exhaustion is what happens when the body overheats and cannot cool down.

It usually doesn’t require emergency medical attention, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as long as you can cool yourself down within 30 minutes.

Common symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• tiredness
• weakness
• feeling faint
• headache
• muscle cramps
• feeling or being sick
• heavy sweating
• intense thirst

If you do not take action to cool down, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, which is a lot more serious.

Heatstroke is where the body is no longer able to cool down and your body’s temperature becomes dangerously high.

Common symptoms of heatstroke include:

• confusion
• lack of co-ordination
• fast heartbeat
• fast breathing or shortness of breath
• hot skin that is not sweating
• seizures

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you think someone has heatstroke you should dial 999 and then try to cool them down.

Dr Luke Powles from Bupa Health Clinics said people exhibiting symptoms should be cooled down. “Move them into a cool place, get them to lie down and put their feet up,” he explained. “Give them plenty of water and cool their skin with a cold pack, or towel.”

It might also help to remove unnecessary items of clothing like socks. You could also fan them to try and cool them down.

The person should start feeling better within 30 minutes – if not, it is very important to seek medical help immediately.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of cool drinks, but avoid alcohol. It’s also beneficial to keep cool by: wearing light fabrics, avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm, sprinkling water over your skin and taking cool showers.

Avoid exercising and try to keep your home cool by closing curtains and windows, and turn off electrical equipment or lights.

If heatstroke symptoms progress to the ones listed below – or the person is no better after 30 minutes – you should call 999:

• They feel hot and dry.

• They aren’t sweating even though they are too hot. Their skin might also look red – this can be harder to spot on brown and Black skin, according to the NHS.

• They have a very high temperature that’s risen to 40°C or above.

• They have rapid breathing or shortness of breath.

• They’re confused.

• They have a fit (seizure).

• They lose consciousness (if this happens, put them in the recovery position while you wait for help).

• They are unresponsive.