Source: Health 2.0, reporter Zhu Yuxian
Report date: 2021/06/28 15:54
Data URL path: https://health.tvbs.com.tw/medical/328692
For more than a year now, the world has been shrouded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and our daily habits have been greatly affected and changed, but the oppressive heat of the climate remains unchanged. Under the hot mask, severe heatstroke cases still occur. Doctors remind us that while preventing the epidemic at home, we must also be careful of indoor humidity and heat, which can easily cause heatstroke in elderly people with chronic illnesses; additionally, workers in high‑temperature environments should replenish fluids and electrolytes to stay away from heat injuries.
Indoor heat causing heatstroke in patients with chronic diseases
Dr. Guo Wanyin, attending physician in the Emergency Medicine Department of Chimei Medical Center, said that a 65‑year‑old patient with a history of hypertension and stroke experienced a hot day, with no air conditioning at home, resulting in a stifling indoor environment. The family found the patient confused, with high body temperature and seizures. After being rushed to the emergency department, the temperature reached 43 °C and the patient remained unconscious. Emergency intubation and aggressive cooling were administered; subsequently, due to respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and rhabdomyolysis, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. After treatment by the medical team, the patient was discharged successfully after nine days.
If heatstroke is not identified early, the mortality rate reaches 50%
Guo Wanyin stated that heatstroke is the most severe form of heat‑related illness; if it is not identified and treated early, the mortality rate can exceed 50%. Heatstroke is more serious than heat exhaustion; it involves a core body temperature above 40 °C combined with central nervous system abnormalities such as confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, seizures, or coma. When the general public says “I have heatstroke,” they are usually referring to ordinary heat‑related illness, which often does not meet the medical definition of heatstroke because there are no CNS abnormal symptoms.
Guo Wanyin emphasized that heatstroke, besides causing abnormalities in the central nervous system, can also damage multiple organs in the body, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, muscles, blood, etc., potentially leading to multiple organ failure.
Maintain good indoor ventilation, and replenish fluids and electrolytes
If a suspected heatstroke case is found, in addition to calling 119 for immediate medical transport, Guo Wanyin also advises moving the person to a shaded area on site, away from high‑temperature exposure, and you can spray water over the whole body, use a fan, or apply towels soaked in cold or ice water to the neck, underarms, and groin to cool down.
Guo Wanyin said that although heatstroke can be fatal, it is preventable! In addition to staying alert, if work involves exposure to high‑temperature environments, wear loose, breathable clothing and continuously replenish fluids and electrolytes, and increase the frequency and duration of breaks. In hot seasons, if there are elderly people with chronic illnesses at home, maintain good indoor ventilation to avoid heatstroke caused by stuffy, humid conditions.
◎ Source: Chi Mei Hospital
