Hyperthermia can be defined as the increase in core body temperature as a consequence of the body's inability to dissipate heat or reduce its production. O problem is serious and takes several people to death every year. One of its causes is exposure to excessive heat. On very hot days, for example, we must be careful to prevent the problem from occurring, drinking a lot of water and avoiding physical activity outdoors.
Read too: Hypothermia - condition in which there is a drop in the individual's body temperature
What is hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia is a situation where the individual has a large increase in body temperature due to a failure of the mechanisms that promote heat dissipation. When we expose ourselves to high temperatures, for example, we soon start producing sweat aiming to cool our body. If we stay in this place and don't drink the adequate amount of fluids, we dehydrate and the sweating doesn't occur. With that, we have an increase in body temperature.
Hyperthermia is characterized by a drastic increase in core body temperature, which is defined as the temperature of the heart, lung, brain and splanchnic organs, generally between 36.6 °C and 37.6°C. In hyperthermia, the core body temperature is above 40°C. As the maintenance of body temperature is essential for its proper functioning, this exaggerated increase can cause damage to the fabrics and organs of the body.
Causes of hyperthermia
Hyperthermia can have different causes, the most common being exposure to excessive heat. This excessive heat can be caused by weather conditions or other factors that are not related to the weather and climate, as permanence inside vehicles, boiler room, places with smoke, among others.
This condition can also be induced by physical exertion. In case of physical activitiesintense, hyperthermia occurs due to the body's inability to properly dissipate the heat that was produced by the muscles during activity. The problem is related to the intensity, duration of the exercisethe and also with the environmental conditions at the time of the activity. Physical activity-induced hyperthermia can be observed, for example, in street running and cycling practitioners.
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We cannot fail to quote the call malignant hyperthermia. It is an autosomal dominant inheritance that manifests itself when the individual is submitted to some types of anesthetics and/or depolarizing neuromuscular blockers. More rarely, it can manifest when the individual performs vigorous exercise and/or prolonged sun exposure.
In the case of some anesthetics, the predisposed individual, when subjected to the use of the drug, presents an increase in calcium, which triggers a sustained muscle contraction that does not have its energy dissipated, leading to a very high temperature increase fast. Malignant hyperthermia is severe and potentially fatal.
Hyperthermia symptoms
Hyperthermia can cause different symptoms, among which we can highlight:
headache;
dizziness;
weakness;
excessive production or lack of sweating;
irritability;
vomiting;
cramps;
hallucination;
convulsions;
with the.
Read too: 10 tips to face the heat
Hyperthermia prevention
As we have seen throughout the text, one of the main causes of hyperthermia is exposure to extreme heat. Therefore, we must be aware of our behavior in these situations. Here are some tips to prevent hyperthermia on hot days.
Avoid exposure to the sun for long periods of time.
Hydrate yourself well.
Be careful with your diet, preferring lighter foods.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
Avoid physical activity during periods when temperatures are very high, such as in the afternoon.
Wear light clothing.
Keep the rooms fresh and airy.
Hyperthermia treatment
Hyperthermia is usually treated with methods of mechanical cooling of the body. Among the known methods, we can mention the use of wet sheets, air ventilation, use of ice packs and immersion in cold water. Medicines can also be used in certain cases, such as malignant hyperthermia.
Read too: Does bathing help lower fever?
Fever or hyperthermia?
Fever and hyperthermia are not synonymous, although both phenomena are related to the increase in body temperature. In the case of hyperthermia, we have an increase in temperature as a result of our body's inability to dissipate heat. Fever is related to hypothalamic regulation.
Inside the hypothalamus, there are cells that act like a thermostat, regulating the body's temperature. When these cells perceive changes in the normal temperature range, they activate mechanisms that guarantee heat loss or gain. In fever, this thermostat is readjusted, modifying the temperature thermoregulation point to higher levels. This change in the thermoregulation point is not seen in hyperthermia, which is why medicines that fight fever are ineffective in the case of hyperthermia.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Hyperthermia"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/saude/hipertermia.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
