Arab News spoke to Dr. Zainab Hammo, Internal Medicine Consultant at Al-Thagher Hospital in Jeddah, for some advice on how to protect yourself and treat side effects from the sun. She warns people of two dangerous consequences of the heat: Sunstroke and nosebleeds.

“Sunstroke, sometimes called heatstroke, is a life threatening condition caused by lengthy exposures to high temperatures,” said Hammo. “It occurs when the body’s heat control system fails and cannot lose the excessive heat.”

Sunstroke can also be caused by heat exhaustion and by wearing clothes that are not suitable for high temperatures, she added.

High temperatures can cause the body’s major organs to fail. “A person’s normal body temperature is between 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. If the body’s temperature increases to the range of 40 C to 45 C, it means that this person is under the risk of a sunstroke.”

“To avoid sunstroke, the person should not spend long hours under the sun, not go to the beach in the early morning till afternoon (between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and not drive for long hours,” said Hammo.

“The person should take care of his/her body temperature during this time in order to cope with the very high temperature and intensity of the sun. These urgent procedures should be taken because the temperature of the human body becomes unstable in the summer. The body’s humidity reduces the effectiveness of sweat to reduce body temperature.”

In the early stages, the skin will become hot, sweating usually stops and breathing becomes rapid enough to bring on hyperventilation.

Other symptoms include:

• Muscle cramps and headaches

• Mental and verbal confusion.

• Unintelligible or incoherent speech

• Violent behavior

As sunstroke become more severe, the body’s temperature, along with the pulse, will begin to rise rapidly, and the sufferer may be prone to hallucination and convulsions.

“Sunstroke can happen to anyone, but seniors over the age of 60 and children are more susceptible. If the body has had or is going through an illness, then sunstroke may occur more easily.”

Other susceptible people:

• People who work outside

• People who exercise for long periods of time without proper fluid intake

• People who suffer from anemia, blood pressure and diabetes

“A person who suffers from sunstroke must be cooled as quickly as possible,” advised Hammo. “Undress the person and moisturize his/her body with water, while measuring his/her temperature every five minutes.”

This can be done by putting the person in a bath of cool water or covering him/her in cool towels. Secondly, it is essential to treat dehydration by letting the person drink water.

However, it is very important that the body temperature be lowered gradually, said Hammo. “It is dangerous to decrease the body temperature suddenly. The body’s temperature should start decreasing from 45 C to 38 C in a slow manner.”

Either way, one should get medical help immediately if sunstroke symptoms occur. “Blood pressure and body temperature tests will be taken in order to diagnose the condition. Urine and blood samples may also be taken. Depending on the extremity of the condition, a stay in the hospital may be required,” said Hammo.

She added that a period of observation will also be necessary to monitor any temperature changes and to look for any complications that may occur.
 
Nosebleeds are another health problem people can suffer from due to the extreme heat. It can also be combined with sunstroke.

The most common causes of nosebleeds are heat and dryness. “These two factors work together. That is why nose picking occurs more often when mucus in the nose is dry and crusty,” explained Hammo.

“The nose has many blood vessels in it to help warm and humidify the air a person breathes. These vessels lie close to the surface, making them easy to injure.”

People who suffer from nosebleeds for more than 15 minutes, need to get medical treatment.

“It is scary, but the person should try to stay calm. Most nosebleeds look much worse than they really are. Almost all nosebleeds can be treated at home with simple first aid measures,” said Hammo.

Hammo advises nose-bleeding patients to sit down and lean slightly forward, keeping your head above your heart – this will make your nose bleed less. Lean forward so the blood will drain out of your nose instead of down the back of your throat. If you lean back, you may swallow blood, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Be sun smart

Don’t let these side effects frighten you and result in you not enjoying your summer. Remember, you can still enjoy the beach, pool and walking outdoors, but you have to be smart about it. Always apply sun block, wear a hat and do not stay in direct sunlight for long periods of time. Most importantly, drink lots of water and fluids to stay hydrated!