Reviewed by Dr Nurul Aishah Jamaludin and Physician Brandon Yew

Heat Stroke: Prevent Your Health from Going Up in Smoke

Published February 27, 2023| 5 min read

It’s important to treat a heat stroke as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. Arm yourself with the right information so you know what to do if you or someone you know ever experiences it.

Woman standing outdoors under the sun with sunburnt cheeks covering her eyes with her left hand as she looks up

If you feel that it’s getting hot in here, it may not just be rapper Nelly’s catchy tune. Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness. It can cause your body temperature to rise quickly but your sweating mechanism will fail, preventing you from cooling down.

Should your temperature reach 41 degrees Celsius (˚C) or higher and you don’t receive medical treatment in time, the consequences could be death or permanent disability.

Take note of the symptoms of heat stroke:

Confusion
Seizures
Slurred speech

Altered mental state
Loss of consciousness
Extremely high body temperature
Hot and dry skin, or profuse sweating

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a heat stroke is the result of a significant loss of qi (vital life force) and yin (passive energy) due to exposure to Heat and Dampness.

“Prolonged exposure to humidity or a high temperature can aggravate Fire and Dampness pathogens. Wearing thick layers or tight-fitting clothes in a poorly ventilated environment may also lead to heat stroke. A person will sweat profusely, depleting their qi and yin.”

Real Health Medical Senior Physician Brandon Yew

Here’s how clinical treatment and supplementary traditional remedies can help you recover from heat stroke.

How Can You Prevent a Heat Stroke?

Woman with a wide-brimmed hat smiling as she applies sunscreen lotion to her face while sitting next to a swimming pool — The most effective sunscreens are the ones that come with a rating of SPF 30 or higher and broad-spectrum protection.

Clinical and traditional healthcare providers say that these habits can heat stroke at bay:

Drinking enough fluids daily
Avoiding the consumption of sugary or alcoholic beverages
Wearing sunglasses or a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors

Taking a cold bath or shower
Wearing lightweight and loose-fitting clothing
Keeping outdoor exercising to a minimum: If you’re not used to outdoor exercise, it’s advisable to start slowly and pick up the pace gradually
Using salt tablets or sports drinks to replenish body salt and minerals: Speak to a healthcare provider if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or are on a low-salt diet
Applying sunscreen with SPF 30 protection or higher to the skin: Look for products that offer broad-spectrum, or ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) and ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection

What are the Treatment Options for Heat Stroke?

If you suspect someone has heat stroke symptoms, call 999. If you or the affected person are exposed to sunlight or a hot environment, immediately move to a cool and shaded area, and remove the outermost piece of clothing.

Next, wet the skin and soak their clothing with cold water. Circulate the air around them to speed up the cooling process. If possible, place ice cubes or ice blocks on their head, armpits, neck, and groin area.

At the hospital, they may be treated with:

Cooled intravenous fluids administered through a vein in the arm

Supplemental oxygen
Cooling blankets
Ice baths
Medications that prevent seizure onset
Cold-water lavage: Catheters (thin, flexible tubes) lower overall body temperature by filling the body’s cavities with cold water

The treatment regimen will stop as soon as their body temperature reaches 38.9˚C.

How Can Alternative Medicine Support Heat Stroke Recovery?

Herbal remedies and acupuncture on acupressure points can help in recovery from heat stroke.

Some of the formulas are:

Xiang Ru San (香薷散): Removes Dampness
Liu Yi San (六一散) and Gui Ling Gan Lu Yin (桂苓甘露饮): Clears Heat and removes Dampness
Sheng Mai Yin (生脉饮): Regenerates Heart and Lung qi and yin, regulates sweating

Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (清暑益气汤): Regenerates qi and yin, removes Heat and Dampness
Qi Xing Heat Clearing Tea: Nourishes Lungs and removes excess Heat

An illustration of a right leg, showing yin ling quan (SP9) acupressure point — Massaging the yin ling quan acupoint helps dispel Damp-Heat and ease period pain.

An illustration image of Danzhong acupoint (RN17) — Located on the chest, at the level of the 4th rib, at the midpoint of the two nipples. It dispels pathogens for better qi and blood circulation within the chest and revitalises the functions of the heart and lungs.

nei guan — Nei guan is located on the front of the forearm, 3-fingers breadth above the transverse crease of the wrist. It restores and enhances the heart’s function for improved qi and blood circulation within the meridians.

Zhong wan — Located on the front of the upper abdomen, mid-point between the tip of the sternum and the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the upper abdominal cavity and revitalises the Spleen’s function.

An illustration of zusanli to maintain overall health — Zu san li is located on the front of the lower leg, 4 fingers-breadth below the knee joint.

An illustration of the he gu or LI4 acupoint as one of the acupressure points to relieve a runny nose — He gu is useful in helping rebalance the flow of qi and expel lingWind, providing relief from allergy symptoms.

Bai Hui — Bai hui is located at the uppermost point on the human body, in the centre of the top of the head.

TAI YANG — Tai yang (EX-HN5) is located in the region of the temples, in the depression about one finger-breadth posterior to the midpoint between the lateral end of the eyebrow and the outer canthus.

An illustration of feng chi as one of the acupressure points to heal symptoms of cold — Feng chi is located at the back of the neck, where you can feel a depression on the base of the hairline as shown above.

Acupuncture will be used on these acupoints:

Yin ling quan (SP9, 阴陵泉): Removes Dampness
Dan zhong (RN17, 膻中): Removes Heat and regenerates qi
Nei guan (PC6, 內关): Restores and enhances blood and qi circulation
Zhong wan (RN12, 中脘) and zu san li (ST36, 足三里): Removes Dampness and regenerates qi
He gu (LI4, 合谷): Removes Heat and Dampness and restores and enhances blood and qi circulation

Bai hui (DU20, 百会), tai yang (EX-HN5, 太阳), and feng chi (GB20, 风池): Removes Heat and Dampness, restores and enhances localised blood and qi circulation

Combining clinical treatment and traditional therapy can help you cool off from heat stroke. However, Physician Yew cautions, “Be mindful that herbal formula prescriptions target specific pathologies of post-heat stroke syndrome. Acupressure only provides mild relief of the condition’s symptoms. Don’t self-medicate or perform self-treatment without consulting a clinical healthcare provider and licensed TCM professional.”

Experienced heat stroke before or know of someone who has overcome it? Share your experience below.