Heat Stroke or Sunstroke?

How the heat damage differs and which is more dangerous

Created: 08/03/2022 11:32 am

By: Juliane Gutmann

Exposing yourself to the blazing sun for too long at high temperatures increases your risk of heat stroke or sunstroke.

You can read about the difference here.

If there is a lack of pleasant shade and temperatures rise above 30 degrees, it is not just the animal world that suffers: the heat can also have health-endangering consequences for people.

Therefore: avoid the midday heat, wear a hat or cap as sun protection and don't forget sunscreen.

But not only sunburn is a possible consequence of sweltering heat.

Every year countless people need medical treatment for heat stroke and sunstroke.

Such heat damage can even be life-threatening.

The differences between heat stroke and sunstroke in detail according to information from Thieme Wissenschaftsverlag:

• Heat stroke: 

  The body overheats due to heat and/or increased heat production (e.g. through exercise).

  If the body cannot release heat by cooling down, heat builds up.

• Sunstroke:

  The brain overheats due to strong sunlight.

  The reason for this is usually staying in the blazing sun for too long without a hat.

“You often get sunstroke faster than you think.

Heat stroke can even be life-threatening,” DRK federal doctor Prof. Peter Sefrin is quoted as saying on the DRK (German Red Cross) website.

The symptoms of heat stroke and sunstroke: The German Red Cross provides information

The following symptoms are typical of sunstroke:

• headache and neck pain

• Neck stiffness from irritation of the meninges

• dizziness

• red and hot head

• cool body skin

• nausea and/or vomiting

In the worst case, unconsciousness can set in during sunstroke.

Heat stroke can also have fatal consequences for the organism.

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The best thing you can do when it's hot: jump into the cool water.

But be careful: Always cool down before jumping into the water, otherwise there is a risk of cardiac arrest.

© Christoph Hardt/Imago

The following signs may indicate heat stroke:

• overheated skin, increased body temperature

• accelerated pulse

• nausea and/or vomiting

• cramps

• tiredness and exhaustion

• headache

• Tachycardia (heart beating too fast)

• low blood pressure

• dizziness

• confusion to hallucinations

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What to do if you have heat stroke or sunstroke?

Cool down: the most important therapeutic step in the treatment of heat exhaustion and sunstroke.

The patients must be brought to a cool environment and, if necessary, washed off with cold water, according to information from the Thieme specialist portal.

Giving drinks is also important to stabilize those affected.

The German Red Cross also recommends cooling the body and head with damp towels and elevating the upper body of heatstroke and sunstroke patients.

Except when those affected show signs of drowsiness.

Then the legs and not the upper body should be elevated.

If the patient is unconscious, place the patient in a recovery position and dial the emergency number 112. Also alert the emergency services if the patient's condition deteriorates quickly.