Extreme heat poses a great risk for the elderly and heart patients
The increasing heat and humidity in the summer months bring about life-threatening heat stroke cases. Experts point out that hot weather poses serious dangers, especially for the elderly and those with chronic diseases, and that if early precautions are not taken, it can have fatal consequences.
Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. said that heat stroke, sunstroke or hyperthermia are emergencies of the summer season. Devrim Deniz said, "It is an emergency because it is a life-threatening situation if not intervened. It is summer now and when summer comes, such cases will start to fill our emergency departments due to the increase in heat and humidity. Normally, human physiology regulates the temperature itself. We call it thermal regulation. This adjustment occurs especially through a center in the hypothalamus region of the brain. Our skin, veins and sweat glands contribute to this and provide this adjustment. However, this adjustment mechanism is disrupted due to the increasing temperature and humidity and disorders begin in our body systems. Our fever begins to rise, complaints such as fluctuations in our consciousness, dizziness and lightheadedness begin to occur. Our pulse accelerates, breathing may become shallow and intermittent. Rapid breathing may begin. Nausea, cramps and vomiting may occur in our stomach. Muscle twitching and muscle cramps may develop. These are the problems that a patient who has suffered heat stroke will encounter."
Deniz, who talked about the causes of heat stroke, said, "There are some prone conditions. Especially our elderly population has started to increase. With age, the regular functioning of this thermoregulation center begins to deteriorate. Again, due to age, this mechanism does not work properly in children and babies, so heat stroke can easily develop. In cases of chronic diseases; such as kidney disease, heart disease, and diseases where some antidepressants or psychiatric medications are used, the functioning of this regulation center is also deteriorated and heat stroke occurs easily. There are certain precautions that our patients should pay attention to, especially in the event of heat stroke. First of all, they should follow the weather conditions and make their plans accordingly. They should plan their activities, work, and strength accordingly. In hot weather, they should try to avoid going out to hot and humid environments as much as possible. Warmer or cooler regions should be preferred. Plenty of fluids should be consumed. If fluid consumption decreases, the regulation center is easily affected again. By taking precautions in this way, such cases can be prevented in the first place."
"If there is a fluctuation in consciousness, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible and leave the job to professionals"
In case of such a case, Specialist Dr. Devrim Deniz, who stated how citizens should behave, said, "First of all, they should try to remove the individual from that hot and humid environment. They should take him to a cool environment. If necessary, they can apply ice, cold applications. They can have our citizen take a shower. Our citizen will have fluid loss, electrolyte loss. If he is conscious, he can support the patient by using balanced electrolytes such as soda or something he will prepare himself. Again, according to the clinical condition of the patient, we see that the complaints have increased, there is a fluctuation in his consciousness, he should apply to the emergency institution as soon as possible, the job should be left to professionals. So what do we do here? After evaluating the general condition of the patient, taking a good history, evaluating his diseases, examining the necessary blood tests, we try to help our patient regarding his complaints. We especially recommend that diabetic patients do not go out in hot weather, pay attention to drinking enough fluids and continue their diet in a healthy way."
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