Prevention of Heat Disease in Heat Wave 'Water, Shade, Rest' Memory Cold Disease Caution
Jul 26, 2024
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With the help of Professor Park Jae-min of the Department of Family Medicine at Eulji University Hospital in Uijeongbu, the symptoms and prevention methods of heat and cooling diseases were summarized.
▶ Heatstroke is more dangerous than death
When exposed to heat waves for a long time, everyone suffers from mild symptoms such as discomfort, boredom, and poor concentration. When exposed to a high-temperature environment such as a heat wave, our body expands skin blood vessels to increase blood flow, and releases heat through physiological reactions such as sweating to control body temperature. However, continuous exposure to a high-temperature environment can cause damage to body temperature control function. Heatstroke is a heat illness that can occur in this case. Sunstroke (heat exhaustion) is a disease caused by sweating a lot and insufficient supply of moisture and salt. If you have been working hard on physical activities such as exercise in hot places or are exposed to the sun for a long time, your heart rate may increase and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, and fainting may appear.
On the other hand, heatstroke, which is more dangerous than heatstroke, can occur when the nervous system that controls body temperature loses its function because it cannot withstand external heat stimuli, and stays in an excessively hot place for a long time. The main symptoms of heat stroke are body temperature above 40°C, hot and dry skin, and central nervous system abnormalities (decompression of consciousness, delirium, coma, and seizures), and if not treated properly, death can occur.
▶ Prevention of heat-related diseases, remembering 'water, shade, rest'
To prevent heat diseases, it is better to refrain from working or outdoor activities with high physical activity between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., but if outdoor activities are essential, it is important to cool down with fans or fans while spraying water on the skin for at least 10 minutes per hour ▲ resting in a well-ventilated shade or air-conditioned safe room ▲ drinking water and ion drinks from time to time ▲ spraying water on the skin.
In particular, the elderly over 80 years of age with chronic diseases and children who do not have sufficiently developed body temperature control are at high risk of developing heat diseases. Therefore, on a hot day, avoid excessive physical activity or outdoor activity, and in the case of children, special care should be taken to prevent them from being alone in the car or staying in an enclosed space for a long time. In addition, elderly and chronically ill patients should drink enough water from time to time during outdoor activities so that they do not lack moisture.
Professor Park Jae-min said, `In the case of a sunstroke, most people get better if they move to a cool place and take a rest while drinking water, but heatstroke is the most dangerous heat disease because of its high mortality rate.' `If your body temperature rises and symptoms such as a consciousness disorder appear, you should move to a cool place and lower your body temperature through a wet towel or fan", he explained.
In addition, if symptoms of consciousness change such as dizziness, nausea, and muscle cramps do not improve after rest, it is better to report them to 119 or visit a medical institution promptly for medical treatment."
▶Cold bottle similar to cold 'Cold bottle', occurs due to indoor and outdoor temperature difference
The term "cooling disease" is mainly used only in Korea, and it is not a medical term in a strict sense. Cooling disease can be seen as a general term referring to clinical symptoms such as mild colds, body aches, headaches, indigestion, and fatigue related to cooling in summer.
Air-conditioning diseases cause symptoms as the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors intensifies due to excessive cooling, and the larger the temperature difference, the more it acts on the body as a kind of stress. In addition, prolonged exposure to air-conditioned cold air may cause contraction of peripheral blood vessels, causing headaches. For women, they may be more vulnerable to air-conditioning disease because they have more exposure sites in the summer. In addition, humidity is lowered due to the cooling and dehumidification functions of the air conditioner, which can dry the respiratory mucosa, causing respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, and sneezing similar to a cold.
In order to prevent air-conditioning diseases and reduce symptoms of air-conditioning diseases, do not allow cold air from the air conditioner to directly touch the body. And it is also good to prepare long-sleeved overcoat, but most importantly, it is good to avoid excessive cooling so that the indoor and outdoor temperature is not too different, and to maintain an appropriate indoor temperature and 40-60% humidity at 25-28 degrees.
Professor Park Jae-min said, `Cold disease can be improved with sufficient rest if the symptoms are not severe, but if the symptoms persist or worsen, it is better to visit a hospital for treatment."
bellho@sportschosun.com
