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Scorching heat can cause blood clot in brain

Symptoms like headache, vomiting and fits should be treated immediately.

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Sumit Desai (name changed), 29, was rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital last week after he started suffering from convulsions.

Desai, a salesman, spends most of the working hours outdoors. The excruciating heat and high humidity levels left Desai with a neurological disorder - cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. It is a condition which causes blood clots to develop in the brain.

“Excessive heat teamed with high humidity causes loss of water from the body. Blood thickens and does not get drained out of the brain effectively. Desai was brought in with symptoms of headache, vomiting and fits. He was immediately put on hydrating fluids and anti-coagulants,” said Dr Joy Desai, neurologist at Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo. Doctors cite at least five to six occurrences of thrombosis as summer temperatures start crossing 35 degree Celsius.

“Dehydration due to excessive heat is one of the most common reasons for clotting of blood in the brain. It can lead to catastrophic repercussions within as less as a few minutes to 48 hours,” said Dr Paresh Doshi, neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital in Peddar Road. While symptoms of thrombosis are convulsions, severe headache and vomiting, a sunstroke leads to a person becoming unconscious and that thrombosis should not be mistaken for a sunstroke, say doctors.

“If a patient is suffering from a splitting headache and convulsions he/she should immediately be rushed to hospital,” said Dr Atul Goel, head of neurosurgery department, KEM Hospital.

Though rarely, correcting cerebral thrombosis may require intense surgical intervention. “The effect of excessive heat and dehydration may badly affect the circulation of blood in the brain.

Surgery may be required wherein the skull cap is drilled open and the brain is decompressed to remove blood clots. Delay in treatment can lead to death,” said Dr Doshi.

BEAT THE HEAT
Dehydration due to excessive heat causes of loss of water content from the body which leads to thickening of blood. It effects circulation of blood in the brain causing multiple clots in the brain
Drink plenty of fluids — at least two and half litres of water (about 10 glasses) — throughout the day.

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 exacerbates the condition of cerebral thrombosis. Eat products rich in Vitamin B12 such as sprouts, boiled egg, red meat and milk to build resistance.

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