VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2023--

Whether you’re away on holiday or lounging in the sun at home, needing a siesta after lunch or a disco nap before dinner on a hot summer’s day is normal. But how can you tell when warm weather-induced drowsiness is something more serious? We asked doctors to explain… What is heat exhaustion? “Prolonged exposure to the heat can cause heat exhaustion. It is the body’s response to excessive loss of water and salt,” says Dr Preethi Daniel, deputy medical director at London Doctors Clinic. “Symptoms may be characterised by heavy sweating, rapid breathing, headache, high temperature, nausea, a faster and weak pulse, light-headedness, feeling fatigued and heat cramps.” Older people, babies, children and those with chronic illnesses are much more likely to develop heat exhaustion. “Symptoms are usually the same in adults and children, and can make children tired and floppy,” says Dr Luke Powles, associate clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics. While not life-threatening, heat exhaustion is a warning sign that you need to cool down promptly to prevent progression to heat stroke, which means getting out of the sun immediately. “Remove any unnecessary clothing, lie down and raise your feet so they are above the level of your heart and drink plenty of water,” says Powles. “You can also use a cool sponge to cool your skin. Make sure someone stays with you until you feel a bit better – which you should do in half an hour or so.” If you don’t start to cool down after 30 minutes, see medical help, as you may have developed heatstroke. What is the difference between heat exhaustion and tiredness? “Heat exhaustion is the direct result of spending too much time in the sun and often raises your core body temperature to over 38 degrees, which isn’t an indicator of general tiredness,” says Dr Carolyn Barshall, GP at independent charitable hospital King Edward VII’s. “Whereas tiredness can be caused by many lifestyle factors such as disordered sleeping patterns, alcohol and poor diet.” Daniel adds: “If you have a lack of energy or aches and pains, consider it tiredness, but if you have any of the other symptoms mentioned above, it could be heat exhaustion.” What is heatstroke? “Heatstroke is the end result of overheating,” says Daniel. “Our internal temperature rises and creates confusion, drowsiness and can lead to seizures.” Much more serious than heat exhaustion, it can cause a change in mental status such as, Barshall says: “Confusion, delirium, combativeness, seizures, loss of consciousness, and a core body temperature above 40 degrees.” Symptoms may also include skin that’s not sweating even when it feels hot, fast breathing or shortness of breath. “Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are often confused, but there is a difference,” says Powles. “Heatstroke should be treated as an emergency, whereas with heat exhaustion, the person needs to be cooled down.” If you suspect someone has heatstroke you should call 999 or seek emergency help immediately. How to stay safe in the sun To prevent heat exhaustion during summer, it’s important not to spend too long in the sun and to stay hydrated. “Avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm, and wear light-coloured, loose clothing,” says Daniel. “Drink plenty of cold drinks and water throughout the day and limit alcohol intake.” To help little ones, she says: “You can keep a pram or buggy cool by covering it with a damp cloth and refreshing it every 30 minutes.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live King Charles enjoys a wee dram at the Met Highland Gamesv Why have the birds disappeared from my garden? Top Films: w/c Saturday, August 12

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LeBron James’ son Bronny suffered cardiac arrest during his University of Southern California basketball practice and was rushed to the hospital, according to a statement released by the family’s spokesperson on Tuesday. The public statement confirmed Bronny was out of the ICU, stabilised, and in recovery. Cardiac arrest is “the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm,” and is also referred to as sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cardiac arrest refers to when the heart stops completely, and the body no longer has blood or oxygen flow. If not treated immediately, the condition can lead to death. The National Institute of Health attributes the cause of cardiac arrest to types of arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats that stop the blood from pumping through to the heart, with the main causes “ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia,” both types of arrhtyhmias. If a person has had prior cardiac arrest, heart valve disease, arrhtyhmias caused by gene defects, congenital heart defects, or coronary heart disease, they are more at risk. Family history, smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, can put an individual at risk too. A heart attack differs from sudden cardiac arrest, as a heart attack means blood flow to a specific part of the heart is blocked which has the potential to change the “heart’s electrical activity that leads to sudden cardiac arrest,” while sudden cardiac arrest isn’t a blockage, the Mayo Clinic notes. According to the NIH, sudden cardiac arrest typically causes the individual to become unconscious and stops their breathing. Other symptoms include sudden collapse, no response to shouting or shaking, and no pulse. In certain cases, people may exhibit chest discomfort, weakness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations before they suffer from cardiac arrest. Usually, the condition transpires without warning. According to M Health Fairview, a person who has a heart attack could be able to recognise their condition and be able to call emergency medical services. However, people undergoing cardiac arrest are typically unable to identify it in time. “Cardiac arrests are much rarer than heart attacks, but they are much deadlier. There are half as many – roughly 400,000 – reported each year in the US,” the report stated, adding that these instances are often fatal if not treated immediately. The NIH said: “Cardiac arrests usually occur in people’s homes, where no healthcare provider is present to make a diagnosis.” When first responders reach the patient, they will use an electrocardiogram, a heart imaging test, which will display ventricular arrythmia. Additionally, the NIH stated: “Most often, cardiac arrest is diagnosed after it occurs. Healthcare providers do this by ruling out other causes of a person’s collapse.” Treatments for cardiac arrest include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). CPR is often necessary, as well as resetting the person’s heart rhythm with an AED. Certain medications, including beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and surgeries can help treat the condition too, according to the Mayo Clinic, while surgical operations to aid cardiac arrest include “implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery, radiofrequency catheter ablation, and corrective heart surgery”. To prevent sudden cardiac arrest, the Mayo Clinic recommends establishing a healthy diet, going to the doctor regularly, avoiding tobacco use or smoking, heart disease screenings, and blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring. Furthermore, the clinic suggests being well-versed in CPR if you live with someone who may be at risk of the condition. A Johns Hopkins Medicine report acknowledges the benefits of exercising regularly in avoiding cardiac arrest. “A number of studies have also shown that people who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer a sudden heart attack or other life-threatening cardiac event,” the organisation noted. Read More What is Bell’s palsy? The neurological disorder Tiffany Chen was diagnosed with after giving birth Elon Musk slammed for pushing anti-vax conspiracy in response to LeBron James’ son Bronny suffering cardiac arrest LeBron James’ son Bronny suffers cardiac arrest at basketball workout Mom left ‘appalled’ after water park says she can’t breastfeed son in lazy river Scientists share the 8 habits that could take 20 years off your life Everything you need to know about using a defibrillator

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