Feeling drowsy? Take care, might be the first sign of heat exhaustion
Times of India | 27 April 2024
Kolkata: Feeling drowsy at work or while being out in the sun may indicate severe dehydration that may even lead to a heatstroke, warned doctors. The prevailing dry heat has led to several cases of heatstroke. Several hospitals have reported a spike in the number of heatstroke patients since last Friday, when the heatwave began in Kolkata.
Apart from fatigue, nausea, dizziness and breathing distress, drowsiness is also a heatstroke or heat exhaustion symptom that is often ignored, said physicians.They, however, clarified that drowsiness may not be related to heat unless one has had an exposure to the sun or been dehydrated. “Since heat stroke has a paralyzing effect on the brain, the patient is likely to suffer from confusion, lose mobility and feel sleepy. While this can be dangerous outdoors, for the patient can collapse on the road, it also happens indoors and often remains undetected. Typically, the patient may start by feeling sleepy, which can intensify into dizziness, nausea, confusion and then a slow and gradual blackout,” said RN Tagore Hospital intensivist Sauren Panja.
The most common symptoms of heatstroke include extreme fatigue and drowsiness, according to SK Nasim, general physician, BP Poddar Hospital. “This is generally accompanied with delirium or confusion and even sudden loss of consciousness. Excessive sweating causes water and electrolyte loss, which could be a reason. Secondly, heat triggers vasodilation or a widening of blood vessels to release excess heat from the body, by releasing oxygen to those parts of the body that are low on oxygen or nutrients. This process takes up additional energy,” said Nasim.
BP Poddar Hospital has received a significant number of patients with dehydration, fatigue, delirium, and drowsiness over the last fortnight. “All these are general symptoms of heatstroke. While most are being stabilized at our emergency ward and released, some critical patients are admitted to closely monitor their vitals. The number of these patients is increasing,” said a hospital representative.
Charnock Hospital, too, has admitted several heatstroke patients since last week, including many suffering from drowsiness and confusion. “We use rapid cooling techniques at our emergency as the first measure, followed by monitoring of vital parameters to stabilize the patient,” said Charnock MD Prashant Sharma.
Dehydration-induced drowsiness may strike at home, too, warned physicians. It could be the first stage of heat exhaustion or lead to heatstroke if one gets exposed to the sun for a considerable period, said AMRI infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty.
“Drowsiness could be caused by dehydration or heat exhaustion even at home, provided one is in a non-AC room. Heat exhaustion is triggered by sweating while dry heat, like the current spell, is more likely to cause a heatstroke. But it can strike only after a prolonged exposure,” said Chakrabarty.