We all know what happens when we get too cold – hypothermia, frostbite, and other awful scenarios. But what happens if you get too hot? Say, from falling asleep in the sun?
Bear in mind that your body is pretty good at regulating its temperature. If you get too cold, your muscles will start to shiver to maintain homeostasis and warm you up.
Starting to sweat
But what happens when you start to get a little hot under the collar? Well, your body will begin by pumping more blood to the skin surface. It takes heat from elsewhere in
the body to cool the surface down. And it does this with sweat.
When the sweat starts to evaporate, the skin and body will begin to cool. This is all part of the body’s attempts to release heat.
When things get serious
What happens if you overheat? Well, then the body will have a hard time cooling down. This is what leads to heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stroke include vomiting, dizziness, confusion and fainting. If left untreated, the organs can fail – causing disability or death.
If your body gets to around 40 degrees Celsius, the brain will send a signal to the muscles to slow down. That’s why you will start to feel fatigued. If the body’s temperature peaks at 41C or above, your body will begin to shut down. This can be a point of no return, as the skin can’t sweat to cool the body down. When left for too long, heat stroke can result in death.
How to cool down
If you or someone else starts to overheat and experience heat stroke symptoms, you must act fast. Be sure to:
- Move out of the sun
- Place the person in ice water. If you can’t do that, place ice packs on the armpits and groin because there is where the main arteries are.
- Drink fluids (not alcohol or caffeine)
- Rest in a cool place
- Call a doctor or emergency services if they are still overheated
Of course, it’s better to avoid heatstroke in the first place. Remember to stay out of the sun during the middle of the day. Follow the slip, slop, slap, wrap steps. Stay hydrated. And ensure your home can be cooled down with fans or air conditioning.
Originally published on Dec 16, 2016
