What is the relationship between heatstroke and drinking禁忌?
Aug 02, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Heatstroke patients lose large amounts of electrolytes through excessive sweating. Blindly drinking large quantities of pure water would worsen this imbalance, thus creating a contraindication for simple rehydration alone, necessitating concurrent electrolyte replacement. Fluid intake must also be controlled due to cardiac load; hyperthermia affects heart function, and excessive water consumption increases blood volume and thereby加重心脏负担, forming a contraindication for unrestricted drinking, to avoid inducing cardiac dysfunction.
The association between heat stroke and drinking water禁忌 (taboos) generally includes禁忌 (taboos) due to impaired consciousness requiring禁饮 (water prohibition), electrolyte imbalance requiring限饮 (restricted drinking), cardiac load requiring控饮 (controlled drinking), gastrointestinal reactions requiring停饮 (cessation of drinking), and kidney dysfunction requiring慎饮 (cautious drinking). Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Due to impaired consciousness requiring禁饮 (water prohibition): Heat stroke often causes confusion or coma in patients, with weakened swallowing reflex. Drinking water at this time may easily lead to coughing and aspiration, thus forming a禁忌 (taboo) against force-feeding water to ensure airway patency.
2. Due to electrolyte imbalance requiring限饮 (restricted drinking): Patients with heat stroke lose large amounts of electrolytes through excessive sweating. Blindly drinking large amounts of pure water may worsen the imbalance, thus forming a禁忌 (taboo) on simply replenishing water alone, which should be supplemented with electrolytes.
3. Due to cardiac load requiring控饮 (controlled drinking): High fever affects cardiac function, and excessive water intake increases blood volume and thereby the burden on the heart. This forms a禁忌 (taboo) on controlling water intake to avoid inducing cardiac dysfunction.
4. Due to gastrointestinal reactions requiring停饮 (cessation of drinking): Heat stroke may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal mucosal congestion. Drinking water at this time may irritate the gastrointestinal tract and exacerbate discomfort, thus forming a禁忌 (taboo) on temporarily stopping water intake to prevent worsening of symptoms.
5. Due to kidney dysfunction requiring慎饮 (cautious drinking): Heat stroke may lead to insufficient kidney perfusion and reduced excretory function. Excessive water intake may easily cause water retention, thus forming a禁忌 (taboo) on cautious water consumption, which should be adjusted according to kidney function.
When managing heat stroke, it is important to understand the relationship between water intake禁忌 (taboos) and the patient's condition, avoid blindly replenishing fluids, initially implement cooling measures and seek medical attention, allowing healthcare professionals to assess the condition and choose safe methods such as intravenous fluid administration, strictly following medical guidance to avoid risks associated with violating禁忌 (taboos).
