Heatstroke: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

When the weather gets hot and humid, your body tries to stay cool by sweating. It’s your body’s natural way of keeping you comfortable in the heat. But sometimes, this natural system fails, leading to a dangerous condition called heatstroke. It’s more than just feeling hot or dizzy. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that can damage your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. Without quick treatment, it can even be fatal.

So, how do you know if you’re having heatstroke? And more importantly, what should you do if you, or someone near you, is experiencing one?

Let’s walk through what heatstroke is, its symptoms, how doctors diagnose it, and what treatments are available.

What is Heatstroke?

Heatstroke occurs when your body temperature rises rapidly, usually above 104°F (40°C), and your body can’t cool itself down. It often happens after prolonged exposure to high temperatures or physical exertion in hot weather. Unlike heat exhaustion, which is milder and may include symptoms like sweating and dizziness, heatstroke is far more serious and requires immediate medical attention.

There are two main types of heatstroke:

• Exertional Heatstroke (EHS): This happens during intense physical activity in hot conditions and often affects young, healthy individuals like athletes or labourers.
• Non-Exertional (Classic) Heatstroke: This usually affects the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, or those without access to proper cooling or hydration.

How Do You Know If You're Having Heatstroke?

Recognising the signs early can save a life. Here are the common symptoms of heatstroke:

• High Body Temperature: This is the main sign. If someone’s core body temperature hits 104°F (40°C) or higher, they could be having a heatstroke.
• Altered Mental State: Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, seizures, or even loss of consciousness are all red flags.
• Dry or Damp Skin: While many people expect excessive sweating, during heatstroke, your skin may actually feel dry because your body stops sweating to conserve water.
• Rapid Heartbeat and Breathing: The heart works harder to cool down, leading to a faster pulse and shallow, rapid breathing..
• Nausea or Vomiting: People with heatstroke often feel sick to their stomach or actually vomit.
• Headache: A throbbing headache is another common early symptom.
• Muscle Cramps or Weakness: Some people experience painful cramps or feel physically weak.

If you or someone around you shows these symptoms—especially confusion and a high temperature—treat them as an emergency and immediately go to a hospital near you.

What To Do During a Heatstroke

If you suspect someone is having a heatstroke, act fast. Here’s what to do:

• Call for Emergency Help: Dial emergency services (like 108 or 112) immediately. Don’t wait for the condition to improve on its own.
• Move the Person to a Cooler Area: Get them indoors or into shade. A fan or air conditioning will help speed up the cooling process.
• Lower Their Body Temperature: You can do that by removing excess clothing, using cool water to sponge the body, applying ice packs to the areas with major blood vessels like the neck, armpits, and groin, and, if possible, immersing in cold water.

Remember not to give medications to reduce fever. Over-the-counter drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen don’t help in this case and can worsen the condition.

Diagnosis: How Doctors Confirm Heatstroke

Heatstroke is generally diagnosed by:

Measuring Core Body Temperature

Doctors will use a rectal thermometer to check core temperature, which gives a more accurate reading than oral or skin thermometers.

Physical Examination

Doctors will check skin appearance, breathing, heart rate, and neurological signs like alertness and coordination.

Lab Tests

To assess the impact of heatstroke on the body, tests may include:

• Blood tests: To check sodium, potassium, kidney function, and muscle breakdown.
• Urine tests: To look for dehydration or kidney damage.
• ECG: To assess heart rhythm.
• Liver function tests: Because heatstroke can also affect the liver.

Treatment Options

The goal of treatment is simple: cool the body as quickly as possible and prevent organ damage. Doctors try different ways to cool down your body. They try:

• Rapid cooling techniques include cold water immersion (immersion in a tub with cold water), evaporative cooling (spraying your body with cool water and fanning to increase evaporation), cooling blankets, and ice packs.
• Intravenous (IV) fluids are given to rehydrate and support organ function, and patients are given IV fluids.
• Oxygen therapy, that is, administering oxygen, is used if breathing is affected.
• Medications like muscle relaxants may be used to prevent shivering during cooling. Shivering can raise body temperature again.
• Continuous monitoring of heart rate, breathing, kidney function, and neurological status is crucial.

In severe cases, dialysis or ventilation support may be needed if organs begin to fail.

Recovery and Long-Term Effects

Most people recover completely from heatstroke if treated early. However, in severe cases, people may sometimes take weeks or months to fully regain normal function. They can also develop:

• Permanent organ damage
• Neurological issues (like memory loss or poor coordination)
• Increased sensitivity to heat in the future

Who is Most at Risk?

While anyone can develop heatstroke, certain groups are more vulnerable:

• Infants and young children
• Elderly adults
• People with chronic illnesses (like heart disease, diabetes)
• Outdoor workers or athletes

How to Prevent Heatstroke

As with most health emergencies, prevention is the best cure. Here’s how to stay safe during hot weather:

• Stay hydrated. Drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty.
• Wear lightweight clothing. Choose light-coloured, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen.
• Avoid peak sun hours. Limit outdoor activity between 10 AM and 4 PM.
• Take breaks. Rest often in cool or shaded areas, especially when working or exercising outside.
• Never leave anyone in a parked car. Even with the windows slightly open, temperatures inside can rise dangerously high within minutes.
• Use fans and AC. If you don’t have air conditioning, spend time in public places like malls or libraries during heat waves.

Final Thoughts

Heatstroke isn’t just another summer discomfort. It is a life-threatening emergency. Knowing how to recognise the warning signs and acting quickly can save your life or that of someone around you. If you suspect someone is suffering from heatstroke, get medical help immediately, cool them down, and stay with them until help arrives. You can visit a general medicine hospital in Bangalore or the city you reside in or go to a general medicine doctor in Bangalore or any other city.

When the heat rises, take it seriously. Protect yourself, stay informed, and help others beat the heat safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does heatstroke usually last?

The length of heatstroke recovery depends on how severe it is and how quickly treatment begins. Mild cases often improve within 1 to 2 days with proper cooling and hydration. More serious cases may take several days to a week, and full recovery, especially if internal organs are affected, can sometimes take months or even up to a year.

2. What is the quickest way to recover from heatstroke?

You can:

• Move to a cooler or shaded place immediately
• Remove tight or excess clothing
• Apply cool, damp cloths or take a cool bath
• Drink plenty of fluids like water or sports drinks to rehydrate to recover from heatstroke.

3. Should paracetamol or painkillers be used to treat heatstroke?

No. Paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen do not help with heatstroke and can sometimes cause harm. Medical attention is necessary, and CPR may be needed in severe cases.

4. What fluids are best to drink during heatstroke?

The best fluids are cool, non-caffeinated drinks such as water, sports drinks, or coconut water to restore fluids and electrolytes. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks, which can worsen dehydration. Severe cases might require hospital care and IV fluids.

5. Can heatstroke occur during the night?

Yes. If the body doesn’t get a chance to cool down and recover, especially at night, heat stress can worsen and lead to heatstroke, which may cause dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness.