The prolonged heatwave has not only severely disrupted people’s travel but has also heightened the risk of heatstroke. Recently, Nanjing Zijin Hospital admitted several patients with heatstroke. Although aggressive emergency treatment helped preserve organ function, some patients have sustained neurological damage and will require further rehabilitation.

Many people assume that heatstroke is simply a severe case of heat exhaustion and that the condition will resolve once the fever subsides. In reality, heatstroke can lead to multi-organ failure and is associated with numerous complications, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, hepatic and renal dysfunction, vascular thrombosis, cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and other long-term sequelae—consequences that are far more serious than commonly perceived.

Among these, brain injury can lead to disturbances in consciousness and motor dysfunction, with a correspondingly prolonged recovery period. Therefore, timely rehabilitation therapy can help patients mitigate the extent of their injuries and achieve effective functional recovery.

Nanjing Zijin Hospital employs hyperbaric oxygen therapy to expand the intracranial oxygen diffusion radius and promote neuronal recovery. In addition, it provides comprehensive rehabilitation—including median nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, audio‑visual‑electrical‑and‑tactile stimulation, and sensory‑based interventions—along with limb‑function training, thereby mitigating neurological deficits and facilitating a more rapid and favorable recovery for patients.

The most effective preventive measures against heatstroke are to avoid high‑temperature (and high‑humidity), poorly ventilated environments; to minimize and eliminate risk factors for heat‑related illness; to ensure adequate rest; and to prevent dehydration, thereby reducing both the incidence and mortality of heatstroke. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, seek medical attention promptly to prevent further deterioration of the condition.