Sunburn and heatstroke: dangers to avoid
It is a beautiful summer morning and you are heading to the beach. By mid-afternoon you will be on your way to the emergency room.
What went wrong?
Most likely, you thought the sun was your friend. But too much of a good thing can make you sick.
The most common sun-related problem is sunburn. Fortunately, the risk of sunburn often haunts us before suffering an even worse fate. Sunburn is, in fact, a burn caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays, both UVB and UVA. The top layers of your skin are really overcooked and starting to lose liquid, like a sizzling steak. Once the damage is done, there is no medical cure except allowing your body to heal itself. Pain relievers and cold compresses can ease discomfort, but they do not speed healing. Do yourself a favor and leave sunburn alone. You don’t want scars from a deep sunburn or infection from opening blisters.
Without a doubt, prevention is the best answer. Avoid direct sun exposure between 10 and 4 in the afternoon. Always use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply to all areas exposed to the sun half an hour before exposure. Even sunscreens that claim to be water resistant need to be reapplied every few hours after sweating or swimming.
When the core of your body overheats, not just your skin, the danger becomes much greater. The body’s core can overheat from direct sun exposure on a hot day or other high-temperature environments, especially when it comes to physical activity. Below 80 degrees Fahrenheit, this rarely happens. Above 130 degrees F, the danger is extreme. Between 80 and 130 degrees the danger increases dramatically.
The body overheats from a combination of internal heat production (as in fever) and external heat. To maintain a normal body temperature, the body must be able to rid itself of excess body heat. Take your car engine, for example. If the fan fails or water leaks, it will overheat. Similarly, if the body cannot cool itself through a combination of evaporation (sweating), convection (cool breeze), conduction (cold packs or cold water, or radiation), it will also overheat.
A car that overheats will start to sizzle and steam, eventually stopping running. Your body too. The first symptom you are likely to experience is heat cramps, which usually occur in the calf muscles or abdominal muscles. Stretching your muscles before exercising and staying hydrated with a sports drink like Gatorade can help prevent heat cramps. If they do, stop exercising, refresh your body, and if you haven’t already, drink some Gatorade.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses too much water and / or sodium. Core body temperature is typically between 100.4 and 104 degrees F. Again, adequate intake of sports drinks can help prevent heat exhaustion. In addition to heat cramps, you may experience dizziness, confusion, headache, nausea, vomiting, and lack of urination. For milder symptoms, immediate cooling with fans or water is helpful. However, for severe symptoms, especially disorientation, other mental symptoms, or a fast heartbeat, you should seek immediate medical attention, where a doctor can monitor your electrolytes and provide the proper balance of replacement fluids through an IV.
The worst case scenario is heat stroke (sun stroke, if it is due to the sun). Heat stroke can be fatal, especially if treatment is delayed. At an internal temperature of 104 or higher, the internal organs stop working properly. Therefore, heatstroke is a medical emergency – call 911 immediately.
Heatstroke symptoms can occur even when a person is not sweating. Confusion is common, which can delay recognition of the problem, especially in the elderly. People suffering from heat stroke should be moved to a shady area and excess clothing should be removed. The victim of heatstroke should be doused with water and / or ventilated, and ice packs should be applied to the armpits, groin, and neck until professional help arrives.
In short, avoiding hot environments and staying well hydrated are the answer to preventing most heat and sun-related problems. Don’t plan on running a marathon on a hot summer day, especially if you’re not prepared for the heat. Keep an eye on Grandma, especially if her house doesn’t have air conditioning. Do not leave your children or pets in the car where the sun can burn them. Preventing the problem in the first place is the key to avoiding life-threatening illnesses.