short of breath, numbness with heat Posted: 02-18-08 01:28am
Hi,
I am writing in here out of concern for my
father.
He is 46 years old and has worked as a
truck driver his whole life.
He has always hated the heat but recently
in Australia over the last 5 to 7 years
its just getting hotter and hotter due to
climate change and the drought.
In summer, on a hot day, my dads body
while hes at work will literally begin to
shut down on him due to the heat.
He sweats all the time, even in winter and
he sweats a lot.
He drinks heaps and heaps and heaps of
water and he wears the loosest clothing he
can.
He has been to the doctors about this
before in recent years but it didn't go
anywhere, they put him on salt tablets but
it didn't change anything.
He has a truck with air conditioning at
the moment, but last week he said he was
so hot he had to get out of the truck
drench himself in water and then get back
in before he could start cooling down.
He finds it hard to breath, his lips and
arms go numb and he either chooses to sit
down before he falls down.
He hates it and it scares him because he
feels he shouldn't be so useless at 46
years old.
To me it sounds a lot like heat stroke but
its more severe, and he can just go from
having a hot day, to doing minor work in
the sun for 10-15 min and then its too
late, all symptoms could be in full swing
depending on heat and weather... and he
drinks water, he really drinks water...
We just don't really know what to do
anymore, he can't just really stop
working, and hes fine most the year aside
from summer. But were getting worried it
could kill him one day.
Any comments/suggestions/theories welcome.
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Gezza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 02-22-08 07:06am
*bump*
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marvel
Supporter
Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1099 Location: Toronto, Ontario (but only a private message away)
Thanks: 50
Thanked:8
Posted: 02-22-08 11:49am
Hi, Gezza. Sorry it has taken so long for
someone to answer. Most of the people on
this forum are from North America, so the
time difference is a bit extreme.
I don't know what to suggest. Has your
father been to a doctor? I'm not quite
sure what this could be for sure, but he
could have heart or neurological problems
that should be taken care of right away.
The numbness is sounds eerily familiar to
stroke-like symptoms that should not be
ignored. He could also be going through
hormonal changes that are common in men
his age, but in general, they aren't that
severe.
My advice would be to see a doctor
immediately. The longer he waits, the
harder this problem could be to resolve.
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Gezza
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 4
Posted: 02-22-08 22:56pm
Thanks for your reply Marvel.
We have seen doctors, but your right maybe
looking at really getting his heart looked
at could be helpful.
The strange thing is though, about six
months ago we were right into the gym and
working out. As long as its cool, he
would within reason keep up with me and I
am 23 years old and not super fit but I
hold my own.
This includes doing a few km's on the
bikes or treadmill and then some weight
work. we would be there from 45 min to
1hr and both leave exhausted.
But as long as it was cool, he was ok, no
numbness, nothing.
He went to a heart check clinic where they
had him run on a treadmill with all sorts
of sticky things on him to measure all
sorts of things and they said his heart
was in good nick.
What are neurological symptoms?
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antigone
Moderator
Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 918 Location: IL
Thanks: 45
Thanked:16
Posted: 02-23-08 22:04pm
Hmm. This sounds cardiac. Tell your dad to
go to a cardiologist. Running on a
treadmill with an ECG monitor on does not
constitute a thorough heart check. The
cardiologist will assess him and probably
do some lab work and stress test. It is a
starting point. The numb lips and mouth
point to poor oxygenation. This can be
cardiac related or pulmonary (lung)
related. Start with the cardiologist.
Unfortunately, in medicine you need to
rule out possible causes to a condition to
find the cause. Good luck with your dad.
