The Major Heat solar term marks the hottest period of the year, featuring blazing sunshine and high air humidity that creates stifling weather. Hospital admissions for heatstroke surge sharply at this time. Mild heatstroke causes dizziness and headaches, while severe cases can be life-threatening. How can we stay safe amid extreme heat?

Guard Against Physical Heatstroke Amid Heavy Summer Dampness

People with yin deficiency and heat sensitivity are more vulnerable to heatstroke. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, the Major Heat brings scorching temperatures and frequent rainfall. Intense summer heat and dampness easily invade the human body.

Early warning signs of heatstroke include severe fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, chest tightness and profuse sweating. At this stage, move to a cool area immediately, unbutton your collar, sip cool boiled water and eat fresh fruits for rest.

Severe heatstroke manifests as profuse sweating, a body temperature above 39°C, altered mental status and limb convulsions. Pinch the patient’s Renzhong and Hegu acupoints, loosen clothing, and transfer them to a well-ventilated space.

Three high-risk scenarios to avoid:

1. Prolonged outdoor labor or strenuous exercise;

2. Staying in stuffy, poorly ventilated spaces without timely fluid replenishment;

3. Entering an over-cooled air-conditioned room straight from sweltering outdoors.

Prevent Emotional Heatstroke Triggered by Liver Fire

TCM holds the theory of correspondence between human beings and nature: mental state and emotions shift subtly with seasonal climate changes. Sweltering Major Heat stirs liver fire, leading to irritability, listlessness, muddled thinking, poor appetite, anxiety and restlessness — symptoms known as emotional heatstroke.

Emotional heatstroke poses severe threats to physical and mental health. For the elderly and those with weak constitutions, emotional disturbance may trigger myocardial ischemia, arrhythmia, elevated blood pressure and even sudden death.

Unlike physical heatstroke which can be relieved with cooling herbal remedies, emotional heatstroke requires inner peace. As an old saying goes, calmness brings natural coolness. Maintain a tranquil mindset to avoid negative stimuli. When anger flares up, adjust your mood through psychological suggestion and mental cooling techniques. Seek comfort from family or friends if self-regulation fails. Spending time in nature also calms the mind and relieves agitation.

Seven Key Preventive Measures

Heatstroke is prevalent in summer; follow these seven tips for protection:

1. Get sufficient rest and sound sleep, as sleep deprivation weakens immunity. Take a 30-minute to one-hour midday nap.

2. Replenish water regularly. Eat hydrating fruits such as watermelon and pears, and drink cooling beverages like mung bean soup and sour plum soup.

3. Minimize outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the hottest hours. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and limit outings on muggy sauna-like days.

4. Wear sun hats and sunglasses outdoors to block direct sunlight.

5. Replenish fluids promptly after exercise. Those who sweat heavily should drink light salt water in small, frequent sips.

6. Choose loose, light-colored cotton garments for better heat dissipation.

7. Carry cooling supplies such as Rendan pills, cooling balm, essential balm, Shidishui and mint lozenges during trips or business travel. Workers exposed to high temperatures and heat-prone groups may take Huoxiang Zhengqi Liquid regularly as a precaution.

Four-Step Heatstroke First Aid

If you or others show heatstroke symptoms, follow these steps:

1. Transfer the patient quickly to a cool, ventilated area. Lay them supine with the head slightly elevated, unfasten clothing and allow quiet rest.

2. Implement physical cooling: wipe the body with cold water or diluted alcohol, or place cold wet towels, ice packs or ice cubes over major blood vessels on the neck, armpits and groin to accelerate heat loss.

3. Offer light salt water to conscious patients for electrolyte replenishment.

4. Rush the patient to hospital immediately for emergency treatment if coma, heart failure, breathing difficulty, subcutaneous bleeding or jaundice occurs — do not delay medical care.