Even when you love summer, too much heat is a real aggression for the body .

The hypothalamus, the brain gland that orchestrates the production of sweat and triggering thirst, is overwhelmed by the situation. It struggles to maintain body temperature around 37 ° C, the most conducive to optimal functioning of vital organs. Hyperthermia is on the alert , with its attendant potentially serious side effects.

The symptoms of sunstroke

Hyperthermia can result in a variety of symptoms: redness of the face, headache, diffuse pain, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting .

In the most critical cases, an increase in respiratory rate and heart rate may occur, as well as a drop in blood pressure, a state of mental confusion and a feeling of oppression that may lead to fainting .

Young children and the elderly, whose thermal adaptation capacities are lower, are particularly at risk.

The reflexes to adopt under the sun

"To prevent the symptoms from getting worse, we must quickly lower the body temperature," says Dr. Loïc Etienne, emergency physician, coauthor of "You have the power to change your health" (Marabout ed).

So lie down in a cool place and put wet cloths on your body , including your arms, neck and forehead. You should also drink plenty of water or lukewarm linden infusion in small sips to rehydrate and bring down the fever.

But in case of severe nausea, agitation, fatigue, loss of consciousness or temperature above 39.5 ° C, it is imperative to see a doctor quickly or call the Samu (15). Hospitalization may be necessary because neurological, cardiac or renal disorders are to be feared.

How to avoid it?

The best prevention is not to expose yourself to the sun during the hottest hours, between 11am and 4.30pm . But other situations are also at risk.

In the cabin of the car, which behaves like a greenhouse under the effect of infra-red rays of the sun, the thermometer can climb very quickly up to 50 ° C.
To avoid this pitfall, do not roll all closed windows and have sunshades (or wet beach towels) on the rear windows of the vehicle. Or turn on the air conditioning. And, most importantly, never leave children inside a closed car, even time for a quick shopping. Better to wake him up than to take thoughtless risks.

Athletes must also be vigilant because practicing intense physical activity induces internal heat production. So no jogging or cycling or ping pong in the middle of the summer. Hikers should focus on light-colored clothing, which absorbs less infra-red, and wear a hat.

Also beware of alcohol that promotes dehydration and disrupts the body's natural thermal regulation.