Stroke while working in air-conditioned room

On July 1, Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Emergency Department, Vinh Phuc General Hospital, said that the patient was admitted in a state of complete paralysis of the right side of the body, lethargy, and language dysfunction. Cerebral angiography results showed acute middle cerebral artery occlusion – stroke.

The patient was treated with endovascular intervention using digital subtraction angiography (DSA), which aspirated the thrombus causing the blockage to re-open the brain. Fortunately, after the intervention, the patient regained consciousness, the muscle strength on the paralyzed side gradually recovered, no more facial paralysis, and no more slurred speech. He said that he had just woken up from his afternoon nap and was sitting in an air-conditioned room working when he felt unusual signs in his body.

The weather in the northern provinces has been very hot these past few days, with peak temperatures reaching 37 degrees. According to Dr. Tho, due to the hot weather, many people use air conditioners at low to very low temperatures, causing a large difference between the temperature inside and outside the air-conditioned space. When moving from inside the room to outside and vice versa, the body must constantly adjust to cope with the change.

At high temperatures, blood vessels dilate to enhance heat dissipation. Conversely, when the temperature is suddenly cold, blood vessels will constrict. “This abnormal vasodilation combined with existing risk factors such as underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia… increases the risk of vascular damage, vascular occlusion causing stroke,” Dr. Tho explained.

Doctors recommend that some groups of people should limit going out in the hot sun, such as the elderly, people with a history of underlying diseases related to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. People who regularly use tobacco, alcohol, and stimulants should also avoid going out in the hot sun.

It is best to go out in the early morning and late afternoon when the weather is cool. In rooms with air conditioning, the temperature should be limited to around 27 degrees Celsius, the difference between inside and outside the room should not exceed 7 degrees Celsius.

In addition, regularly drink enough water during the day to help increase the volume of body fluids, avoid blood thickening leading to the formation of blood clots. Eat and live a healthy lifestyle, control a stable weight and do not abuse stimulants such as alcohol and tobacco.