Weakness and fatigue are very nonspecific symptoms, they can occur for various reasons, including thyroid disease, anemia, post-viral syndrome, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 deficiency. But these can be considered a warning sign of heat exhaustion or heat stroke
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two important events that may happen in summer because of a failure of control over the cooling sweating mechanism. Due to this mechanism, our body is unable to cool down.
Individuals aged 50 and above are at a higher risk of developing problems in the summer when exposed to temperatures of 38.7 degrees Celsius and humidity levels exceeding 70 percent. An irregular heartbeat is something related to the rhythm disturbances of the heart and is quite different from a heat stroke.
Palpitations are just a manifestation of heat stroke; they can happen as part of the presentation of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, but common symptoms include disorientation, confusion, excessive sweating, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, cold, moist skin, headaches, muscle spasms, and swelling in the legs.
Difference between an irregular heartbeat and a heat stroke:
An irregular heartbeat, also known as cardiac arrhythmia, is a condition in which the heart beats abnormally quickly, or slowly. Numerous factors, including stress, anxiety, coffee intake, underlying heart problems, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and hereditary disorders, are common causes of an irregular heartbeat.
Even though an arrhythmia usually is asymptomatic, during a diagnosis, symptoms including chest pains, fluttering in the chest, giddiness, skipping beats, shortness of breath, and excessive perspiration may be taken into consideration. There is a difference between an irregular heartbeat and a heat stroke, but it is important to note that an irregular heartbeat can also happen during hot weather.
According to a study conducted in 2020 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, since 1950, the average annual temperature in India has increased significantly by 0.15 degrees Celsius every decade. Between 1951 and 2015, there has also been a rise in the number of warm days and nights, at roughly seven and three days each decade, respectively.
The most serious of all heat-related conditions is heat stroke, which manifests as impaired brain function (stroke) as a result of excessive body heat.
Cardiac patients are more predisposed to heat stroke and exhaustion. For example, patients with hypertension who are dependent on blood pressure-control medications should be more careful. Such patients can experience arrhythmia or palpitations due to the depletion of electrolytes and water caused by interference with cooling mechanisms during hot weather. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about common summer issues such as heat stroke or exhaustion if you experience these symptoms.
Precaution and prevention of heat stroke and exhaustion require:
• Drinking plenty of hydrating fluids
• Avoiding sun exposure, especially during the hottest part of the day,
• Having a healthy diet
• Applying sunscreen
• Avoiding strenuous activities in the peak summer
• Easing into outdoor activities gradually
• Wearing a breathable hat that shields your head from the sun but allows heat to escape.
• Rehydration is the key strategy for management.
(The author, Dr. Brajesh Kumar Mishra, is an Interventional Cardiologist and Cardiac Electrophysiologist, at Manipal Hospital in Gurugram.)