What are the risks of drinking water for patients with heatstroke?

Generally, drinking water may pose risks for patients with heatstroke, including increased metabolic burden on the kidneys, abnormal blood osmotic pressure, exacerbated gastrointestinal spasms, interference with thermoregulation, and induction of pulmonary edema. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a regular hospital. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Increased Metabolic Burden on the Kidneys

Heatstroke patients are in a state of high fever and dehydration, and the kidneys are already compensating due to insufficient blood volume. If a large amount of water is consumed suddenly at this time, the kidneys will need to filter and excrete a sharp increase in water within a short time, exceeding their normal metabolic capacity, further damaging kidney function, and even potentially causing acute kidney injury.

2. Abnormal Blood Osmotic Pressure

Heatstroke leads to significant loss of body fluids and electrolytes, resulting in concentrated blood. If only large amounts of plain water are rapidly consumed, the sodium ion concentration in the blood will rapidly decrease, causing hypotonic dehydration, leading to more severe symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and worsening the condition.

3. Exacerbated Gastrointestinal Spasms

The gastrointestinal mucosa of heatstroke patients has been damaged by high temperatures, with dilated mucosal blood vessels and weakened digestive function. At this point, consuming large amounts of water will stimulate strong contractions of the gastrointestinal smooth muscles, causing spasmodic abdominal pain. Additionally, gastrointestinal motility disorders may lead to symptoms such as diarrhea.

4. Interference with Thermoregulation

The key issue in heatstroke is excessively high body temperature without effective heat dissipation, with the body actively regulating its temperature through various mechanisms. After consuming large amounts of water, the body increases internal organ activity to process the excess fluid, generating additional heat that is counterproductive to lowering body temperature and interfering with the body's natural heat dissipation processes.

5. Induction of Pulmonary Edema

Heatstroke can increase the permeability of pulmonary blood vessels, leaving lung tissue in a fragile state. When large amounts of water enter the bloodstream, pulmonary circulation volume increases, allowing fluid to pass through damaged blood vessels into alveoli and lung interstitium, thereby inducing pulmonary edema. This manifests as difficulty breathing, coughing, and pink frothy sputum production, posing a serious threat to the patient's life.

When rehydrating patients with heatstroke, it is essential to strictly follow the guidance of professional medical personnel. Typically, electrolyte-containing fluids should be administered in small, frequent amounts, such as oral rehydration salts or intravenous infusion of balanced solutions. At the same time, comprehensive measures including cooling and monitoring vital signs should be implemented. If symptoms such as worsening respiratory distress or impaired consciousness occur, self-administered hydration should be immediately stopped, and emergency medical care should be sought to ensure timely and effective treatment for the patient.