Extremely high ambient temperatures, flames, hot water and other liquids, burning or heated resins (napalm, bitumen) and resinous substances, hot bodies have a damaging effect. They will be discussed in detail separately in the article.

The overall thermal effect on the body is determined by the height of the ambient temperature and the time the victim remains in it.

Prolonged exposure to high ambient temperatures on the body as a whole leads to general overheating of the body (heat stroke). In unadapted people, heat strokes can develop at temperatures above 45-47 °C after 4-6 hours.

Causes of the disease

Normal life activity is possible provided that a constant body temperature is maintained due to the balance between heat generation and heat transfer. At high ambient temperatures, the constancy of body temperature is maintained mainly due to the function of the skin, through which heat is transferred by radiation, heat conduction and sweat evaporation. When the ambient temperature is equal to body temperature, heat transfer occurs only through sweating. Therefore, overheating most often occurs at high humidity and high air temperatures. Such conditions also arise when working in tight, poorly ventilated clothing, etc.

A number of other factors also contribute to overheating: high physical activity, insufficient water consumption, overeating, liquefaction, infections.

Mechanisms of occurrence and development of the disease (pathogenesis)

As air temperature rises, sweating and evaporation increase. At temperatures above 35 °C, a person loses an average of about 5 liters of sweat per day, which corresponds to the release of almost 3000 kcal of heat. Overheating of the body is facilitated by any conditions that impede these processes: high humidity, calmness, thick clothing, etc. Staying in an environment with a high temperature leads to an acceleration of metabolic processes in the body, which, when heat transfer is difficult, contributes to the progressive development of general overheating.

An increase in body temperature to 42 °C and above is considered critical. Death occurs from paralysis of the respiratory center. The rate of development of general overheating largely depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. All other things being equal, persons suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, vegetative-vascular dystonia, and other metabolic disorders, increased function of the thyroid and thymus glands are more easily exposed to overheating. The absence or low degree of adaptation to a hot climate, hard physical work in these conditions also contribute to the rapid development of general overheating. It is most dangerous for children under the age of one year to be exposed to high air temperatures due to the fact that their thermoregulation mechanisms are not yet perfect enough.

Excess heat accumulating in the body during overheating leads to disruption of all metabolic processes (primarily, protein and water-salt metabolism are disrupted). The body loses water and salts, and protein denaturation occurs. With a significant water deficit, blood thickening occurs, hypoxia increases, and hemodynamics worsens. The central nervous system is most sensitive to overheating, therefore the clinical picture of overheating is dominated by symptoms of its damage.

Morphological changes during general overheating are nonspecific and boil down to congestion of internal organs, mildly expressed blood thickening, perivascular hemorrhages, and symptoms of pulmonary and cerebral edema.

A local increase in tissue temperature to more than 50 °C leads to cell death and the development of coagulation (dry) necrosis. Tissue damage from local exposure to high temperature is called a burn.

Clinical picture of the disease (symptoms and syndromes)

Depending on the severity of the injury, overheating is classified as mild, moderate and severe.

With mild overheating, patients complain of general weakness, malaise, thirst, tinnitus, dry mouth, and a moderate increase in body temperature may be observed. Consciousness is clear, the skin is moist, tachycardia, blood pressure is normal. When the influence of the damaging factor ceases, the patient’s condition quickly normalizes.

Overheating of moderate severity is accompanied by a significant increase in body temperature - up to 39-40 ° C. Patients complain of general weakness, dry mouth, thirst, darkening of the eyes, tinnitus, nausea, and often vomiting. Consciousness is darkened, sometimes lost. The skin is moist, muscle tone is reduced, heart sounds are muffled, tachycardia, blood pressure is normal. There is leukocytosis in the blood, the number of leukocytes reaches 12-16-109/l.

Severe overheating (heatstroke, heat coma) occurs suddenly or is preceded by various types of mental disorders in the form of hallucinations, delusions of persecution, psychomotor agitation. Body temperature is 40-42 o C, the skin and mucous membranes are dry, the pupils are dilated, their reaction to light is sluggish or absent, tachycardia (140-160 heartbeats per minute or more), blood pressure is reduced. Breathing is Cheyne-Stokes type or shallow, frequent; Sometimes pulmonary edema develops. Convulsive muscle twitching, as well as clonic and tonic convulsions, involuntary defecation, and urination are often observed. Symptoms of meningeal irritation (Kernig, Brudzinski) may be observed. The volume of blood volume is significantly reduced due to blood thickening, and tissue dehydration is pronounced. The content of leukocytes in the blood increases to 20x109/l.

Sometimes the clinical picture of a heat coma is similar to that of a sunstroke, although with sunstroke, as a result of exposure to sunlight directly on the skull, overheating of the brain, its hyperemia, etc. occur.

With relatively mild forms of sunstroke, patients complain of general weakness, weakness,, noise in ears , . Expressed hyperemia, puffiness of the face, moist skin, clear consciousness, tachycardia, rapid breathing, body temperature is normal or slightly elevated; in more severe forms, symptoms of central nervous system damage increase.

It is customary to distinguish burns: I degree - erythema (redness) of the skin; II - serous inflammation with the formation of blisters; III a - coagulation necrosis of the superficial layers of the skin with partial damage to the germ layer; III b - necrosis of the skin to its full depth with death of the sebaceous and sweat glands; IV - necrosis of the skin and underlying tissues, including bones.

Death in both cases occurs from dysfunction of vital centers, the central nervous system.

→ Overheating of the body

Overheating of the body- a condition similar to heatstroke. Its occurrence is facilitated by high temperature, humidity and still air, poor ventilation, tight, breathable clothing, increased sweating, and an excessively hot bath. All these are factors that disrupt the normal regulation of heat production and heat transfer in the body and can cause overheating and the appearance of painful phenomena as a result of hyperemia of the meninges and brain with subsequent edema.

It is also important that profuse sweat on a hot day removes vital biological fluids and minerals from the body. If they are not replenished, convulsions occur and the victim feels severe weakness.

Signs of overheating resemble heat stroke, but they are less pronounced: increased body temperature to 38 ° C and above, palpitations, headache, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, decreased accuracy of movements. The skin becomes damp, the face turns pale. Breathing is frequent, shallow; pulse is frequent and weak.

The most sensitive to the effects of excess heat are children and the very elderly, patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases, chronic diseases, obese people and patients taking certain medications.

+ First aid

First aid measures are the same as for sunstroke and heatstroke. The victim is given cold, slightly salted water and care is taken to ensure good access to fresh air.

In the prevention of heat stroke and overheating of the body, proper organization of work and sports during the hot season is important: the presence of sun-protected and ventilated rooms, salted water, frequent breaks during work. Clothing should be made of light, loose fabric.

Remember that a hot bath is contraindicated for people with a weak heart.
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In category → First aid

Overheating of the body and first aid for this condition.

Heatstroke– a pathological condition caused by general overheating of the body as a result of exposure to external thermal factors. The main cause of overheating is thermoregulation disorder.

Overheating of the body (hyperthermia) is a condition characterized by an imbalance in heat balance, an increase in the body’s heat content. The main route of heat transfer during human hyperthermia is the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the body and through the respiratory tract. Overheating of the human body is observed in industries with high ambient temperatures or in conditions that impede heat transfer from the surface of the body, as well as in areas with a hot climate.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke:

A) mild degree:

general weakness;
headache;
nausea;
increased heart rate and breathing;
pupil dilation.

Necessary measures: remove from the overheated area, provide assistance.

B) Average degree:

severe adynamia;
severe headache with nausea and vomiting;
stunned;
uncertainty of movements;
unsteady gait;
at times fainting;
increased heart rate and breathing;
increase in body temperature to 39 - 40 C.

B) Severe heat stroke develops suddenly .

The face is hyperemic, later pale cyanotic. There have been cases of changes in consciousness from mild to coma, convulsions, delirium, hallucinations, increased body temperature to 41 - 42 C, and cases of sudden death. The severity of overheating of the body depends not only on the magnitude of the ambient temperature, but also on the duration of its impact on the human body.

Necessary measures:

eliminate thermal effects;
remove the victim from the overheated zone;
lay in an open area in the shade;
inhalation of ammonia vapor from cotton wool;
free from outer clothing;
wetting the face with cold water, patting the chest with a wet towel;
put a bottle of cold water on your head;
frequent plowing;
call an ambulance.

Overheating of the body is accompanied by increased sweating with a significant loss of water and salts from the body, which leads to thickening of the blood, an increase in its viscosity, obstruction of blood circulation and tissue hypoxia.

Necessary treatment for signs of heat stroke: expose the victim. Place ice or containers of ice water on the area of large vessels.

Prevention of heat stroke: on hot days with high humidity, it is advisable to go out into the open air until 10 - 11 o’clock in the afternoon, later it is possible to stay in a green area in the shade of trees, stay outside only in a hat, move the main meal to the evening hours, instead of water you can use acidified or sweetened tea, rice or cherry decoction, bread kvass, limit fatty and protein foods, avoid alcoholic beverages, clothing should be light, loose, made of cotton fabrics, for constant evaporation of sweat. Limiting the use of cosmetics and creams as they interfere with the normal functioning of the skin.

Sunstroke- a condition that occurs due to severe overheating of the head by direct sunlight, under the influence of which the cerebral blood vessels dilate and rush of blood to the head, cerebral edema.

Symptoms: facial hyperemia, shortness of breath, tachycardia, fever, profuse sweating. Sometimes nasal bleeding, loss of consciousness, the occurrence of convulsive syndrome.

Necessary actions in case of sunstroke: the patient must be placed in the shade or in a cool room. Lay horizontally, legs raised. Unfasten your clothes and trouser belt. Spray cold water on your face. Cool your head, for which you can use a cooling thermal pack available in a standard car first aid kit. Wipe your entire body with a wet towel. A good effect is achieved by inhaling ammonia vapor. If conscious, give cold water to drink.

To prevent sunstroke, it is recommended to: walk for up to 11 hours with a mandatory hat. The clothes are light, made of cotton fabrics. Avoid standing for long periods of time in direct sunlight. Limit unnecessary physical activity (competitions, long walks). Eliminate emotional stress. In the diet - vegetable and fruit dishes, limit fatty foods, excessive amounts of meat products. Drink up to 1.5 - 2 liters of liquid: cool tea, fruit drink, juices, kvass.

First: Heatstroke and sunstroke are the same thing.

Second: The normal body temperature of a healthy person ranges from 36.2°C to 37.0°C. This normal body temperature depends on the balance of heat production and heat consumption. Heat is generated in the body due to muscle work and metabolic processes in the cells of the body. Muscle work should also include activities that are familiar to us, i.e. breathing, walking, etc. The brain regulates all these processes in our body. It is part of the central nervous system. Heatstroke is a uniform increase in body temperature under the influence of the external environment.

So, the causes of overheating may be:

Direct exposure to sunlight.

Prolonged stay in a room with high air temperature (bath).

Physical work at high external temperatures.

A sharp change from the usual climate to hot and humid.

Drinking alcoholic beverages in high ambient temperatures.

In the initial stage of overheating, the body struggles with excess heat. Skin blood vessels dilate, sweating increases, heart rate and breathing increase. The body takes all these measures as compensatory measures. Each person individually, depending on his age and health, can have different lengths of time to get rid of excess heat. Of no small importance, of course, is the time spent in unfavorable conditions. Prolonged dilation of skin blood vessels leads to a drop in blood pressure. Excessive sweating leads to loss of fluid, and most importantly, to the loss of microelements necessary for the normal functioning of cells. The brain begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen. Taken together, all this leads to exacerbation of chronic diseases and the occurrence of unforeseen situations: prolonged loss of consciousness, convulsions, heart attack. But this is no longer a joke, especially for people with problems of the heart, blood vessels and nervous system.

The picture of overheating looks different, depending on the degree of overheating. It should be noted that drinking alcohol and drinks based on purified (microelements-free) water greatly aggravates the severity of a person’s condition.

Overheating severity:

1st mild degree characterized by: redness of the skin, increased sweating, general weakness, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat and breathing. Body temperature rises to 38°C-39°. Blood pressure remains in the usual range for humans.

2nd intermediate degree severity is characterized by: redness of the skin, moderate sweating, a sharp decrease in mobility, uncertain movements, unsteady gait, headache, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it seems that the person wants to sleep. Pulse and breathing increase, body temperature rises to 39°C-40°C. Blood pressure may decrease.

3rd severe degree severity is characterized by: pronounced redness of the skin, later it becomes pale cyanotic. There is a decrease in sweating until it stops completely. Delirium and hallucinations appear, prolonged loss of consciousness may occur, and convulsions may occur. Breathing becomes shallow, rapid heartbeat is replaced by a sharp decrease. Blood pressure continues to decrease, and body temperature rises to 41°C.

How can you help a person in this situation?

If you see that a person is feeling unwell, then you need to call a doctor, regardless of your self-confidence.

If it is not possible to call a doctor, then you need to try to take the person to the hospital yourself.

Do not hesitate to call for help; perhaps there is a medical professional or emergency service worker among the people around you. Your actions can literally save a person's life.

Before professional help becomes available, take action.

First aid for overheating:

URGENTLY! Eliminate heat exposure.

Place the person in the shade, preferably in a ventilated place. If a person is unconscious, drunk or, in your opinion, does not behave adequately (for example: does not react to your words, although he can move on his own), then he must be placed in a stable position on his side. In case of vomiting, this position will prevent vomit from entering the respiratory tract.

Remove the victim from outer clothing.

Wet your face and body with cool water, but not cold. Place something cold on your head. You can wrap the victim's body with a wet cloth.

Let's inhale ammonia vapor if the victim is “trying” to lose consciousness or has already lost consciousness. If you do not have ammonia, you can bring the victim to his senses by massaging the nerve endings of the temporal areas and upper lip, earlobes. For more information about this, see the “fainting” section.

If the victim is conscious and can swallow on his own, be sure to combat dehydration. Give the victim a cool drink in small sips every 5-10 minutes. It is better to drink mineral water or a special solution purchased at the pharmacy.

If the victim is conscious and can swallow on his own, he can be given an antipyretic.

If there are no signs of breathing or heartbeat, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Remember:

Do not suddenly cool the patient by immersing him in cold water! This can lead to a reflexive cessation of breathing and heart palpitations!

Do not give medications or drinks to the victim by mouth if he is unconscious! This can lead to blockage of the airways!

You cannot bring a person to consciousness by hitting him on the cheeks!

When should you go to the hospital “without talking”?:

In cases of moderate to severe overheating.

In all cases with a pronounced reaction to overheating (headache with vomiting, significant increase in blood pressure, etc.).

In all cases, if convulsions and impaired consciousness were noted.

Emergency conditions in children. The newest directory Pariyskaya Tamara Vladimirovna

Overheating

Overheating (heat stroke) is a significant increase in body temperature under the influence of external thermal factors, accompanied by pathological changes in various body functions.

The constancy of human body temperature is due to the balance between the processes of heat generation and heat transfer and is under neurohumoral control. The sources of heat generation are muscle work and metabolic processes. Heat transfer occurs through heat radiation, convection and evaporation.

When the air temperature rises to 25–30 °C, heat transfer increases and heat generation decreases. If the balance between these processes is disturbed and heat transfer becomes insufficient, overheating occurs. Children are especially sensitive to increased external temperature and overheating, since their heat transfer processes are not sufficiently developed. At an air temperature of 34 °C, heat transfer by convection, radiation and conduction practically does not occur, and it occurs only through the evaporation of sweat. At air temperatures above 37 °C, the human body is unable to give off heat and begins to heat up.

Overheating occurs in children when they are in hot, humid air (in a bathhouse), with inappropriate clothing, especially if the child performs heavy physical activity (sports competitions, etc.). In young children, overheating often occurs when they are wrapped up excessively.

In the initial phase of overheating, heat transfer in the body increases, skin vessels dilate, hyperventilation and tachycardia occur, and sweating increases. With continued overheating, profuse sweating leads to dehydration and electrolyte disturbances. Dehydration develops according to the hypertensive type, the volume of circulating blood decreases, blood pressure decreases, and cerebral hypoxia develops.

Clinic. With mild overheating, complaints of headache and weakness appear. The children are excited. The skin is hyperemic and moist. Breathing and pulse are increased.

With moderate overheating, children complain of severe headache, nausea, and possible vomiting. Body temperature is increased to 39 °C, the skin is moist and hyperemic. Pulse and breathing rates are significantly increased. Blood pressure is increased. A short-term disturbance of consciousness is possible.

With severe overheating, children are very excited, convulsions, loss of consciousness are possible, body temperature is sharply increased - up to 40 ° C and above, the skin is dry and hyperemic. Breathing is frequent and shallow. Tachycardia is pronounced. Blood pressure is reduced.

Urgent Care. It is necessary to stop the effect of high temperatures on the child’s body - take him out of the hot room, unwrap him, place him in a cool room, if possible - turn on the fan. Give the child cold water and tea (preferably green). Wrap the child's body in a sheet soaked in cold water. In severe hyperthermia, along with physical hypothermia, drug suppression of heat production is used. Analgin is prescribed orally or intravenously, in an age-specific dose. Prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg. 10% glucose solution, chilled, IV, drip. If seizures develop, use anticonvulsant therapy. Monitor your blood pressure levels! If the blood pressure level is below critical (systolic blood pressure less than 70 mm Hg), administer rheopolyglucin, intravenous prednisolone, if there is no effect from infusion therapy, intravenous drip vasopressors - norepinephrine 2-8 mcg/min or mesaton 5- 20 mcg/min. Vasoactive drugs are diluted in isotonic sodium chloride solution. Their dose is gradually reduced or increased, achieving maintenance of systolic blood pressure of 70 mm Hg. Art. and higher.

In case of severe overheating, the child must be hospitalized to carry out a complex of therapeutic measures.

This text is an introductory fragment. From the book Universal Medical Directory [All diseases from A to Z] author Savko Liliya Mefodievna

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From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (PE) by the author TSB

author

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Overheating Overheating (heat stroke) is a significant increase in body temperature under the influence of external thermal factors, accompanied by pathological changes in various body functions. The constancy of human body temperature is due to balance

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