San José, Costa Rica. Enero, 2016.

Intense thirst and mouth dryness, excessive sweating, stomach-aches, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, these may be symptoms of heat-strokes.

According to Dr. Jannina Álvarez, physician member of the medical check-up service of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital: “The body should maintain a balance with the external temperature, and it uses sweating to do this. When the external temperature is very high, the body expels sweat more slowly, which results in that the body is not sufficiently refreshed.”

It is important to be alert before the following symptoms:

• temperature over 39º C (axillary temperature)
• suffocating heat feeling
• dry skin
• exhaustion, fatigue or weakness
• dizziness, vertigo or fainting
• muscle cramps
• agitation
• headaches (sensation of heartbeat or tightness)
• state of confusion, disorientation, delirium or even comma or seizures

“Anyone can be the victim of a heat-stroke, however, as most of the pathologies in medicine, there are risk groups,” said Dr. Álvarez.

Prevention is best

In case of having a heat-stroke, it is important to seek medical assistance immediately since it can cause serious repercussions and even neurological ones. While medical assistance arrives, it is recommended to take the patient to a place out of the sun, a cool room, seek the shade and even try to cool-down the body with a cold bath or shower, applying wet cloths on the skin (simulating the action of sweating).

In order to obtain further information or to request an appointment in any of the medical specialties with the best doctors of Costa Rica, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, at email citas@clinicabiblica.com or vía chat on the website www.clinicabiblica.com