How to Get Rid of Sunstroke?

A few decades ago there was a song that contained the lyrics “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun.” But the truth is people of all nationalities tend to spend more time in the sun than they should. This may lead to skin problems and something a bit more problematic – sunstroke. You can prevent this condition by limiting your time in the sun or avoiding long periods in high temperatures.

Human beings must maintain a constant body temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit to remain healthy. A consistent temperature in this range allows all the body’s system to operate as they should. When our bodies can no longer regulate this temperature for some reason, we may suffer serious health consequences. It is essential that we start dealing immediately with this temperature increase.

Here are Some Things to Try
It’s important not to wear too much clothing if you are going to be in the sun or outside on an extremely hot day. If you feel that you are getting too warm, take off your hat or other head covering so body heat can be released. In addition, you should probably remove your socks and shoes. This will allow a lot more heat to escape than you might think.

Get to a shaded area if possible and drink water or juices. Avoid alcoholic beverages or drinks that contain caffeine. Sip the water or juice gradually – don’t gulp it down! Sit down and allow your body to rest as much as possible. If you can take a cool shower right away this will help, but don’t let the water get too cold. If you can, lie down with your feet slightly elevated. Place a cool, moist washcloth on your forehead. Eventually you may want to try a drink that has some electrolytes as an ingredient.

Feeling Better?
These simple steps should have you feeling better very soon. After all, your body was simply overheated and needed to be cooled down. If you don’t recover in a reasonable amount of time, you should probably seek medical attention. Sunstroke doesn’t have to be life-threatening but it may be if it advances too far without proper treatment.

Doctors have been known to use something as simple as ice packs to lower body temperatures. You can do this, placing ice on the back of the neck, in the armpits and on the legs. Gentle massage will help stimulate blood circulation, sending cooler blood to the brain and the vital organs.

It’s very important to limit strenuous exercise during the warmest part of the day. If you must work or exercise when it’s hot, make sure you have plenty of water and ice available. Be prepared to get to a shaded area. Stop working or exercising the moment you feel too warm or begin to feel dizzy. Light-colored, loose clothing is best in warm weather. This allows air to move around the body, keeping it cool. The best advice for sunstroke or heat stroke is this: prevent it!

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