A condition in which someone becomes too hot and his or her body temperature rises abnormally, leading to headaches, stomach cramps and sometimes loss of consciousness.
Severe, sometimes fatal, condition caused by prolonged exposure to intense heat and failure of the body’s temperature-regulating capacity, Symptoms include high body temperature, rapid heart beat; red hot, dry skin; confusion; and possibly convulsions and loss of consciousness. Treatment includes cooling of the body, fluid and electrolyte replacement, and sedation. Also called sunstroke; heat hyperpyrexia.
A disturbance of the body’s heat-regulating mechanism caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures/ Symptoms include high fever, absence of sweating, and collapse, sometimes culminating in convulsions, coma, and death.
Raised body temperature (pyrexia), absence of sweating, and eventual loss of consciousness due to failure or exhaustion of the temperature regulating mechanism of the body. It is potentially fatal unless treated immediately: the body should be cooled by applying damp cloths and body fluids restored by giving drinks or intravenous injections of salted water.
A condition caused by failure of the body’s heat-regulating mechanisms during or after exposure to heat and high relative humidity (normally air temperatures of greater than 79°F (26. 10C) and relative humidity greater than 70%). In the U.S., 250 people die of heatstroke each year. In young, healthy people it most often follows strenuous physical activity; in inactive individuals or the elderly it commonly is related to cardiovascular disease or use of drugs that influence temperature regulation.
A condition in which body loses its ability to cool itself by sweating.
A life-threatening condition caused by prolonged exposure to high heat.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is exposed to excessive heat and its natural temperature regulation mechanisms fail. This leads to the body becoming overheated. Prolonged and unaccustomed exposure to the sun in a hot climate is a common cause of heatstroke. Other contributory factors include wearing unsuitable clothing, engaging in strenuous activities, overeating, and consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.
Heatstroke is commonly preceded by heat exhaustion, characterized by fatigue and excessive sweating. However, when heatstroke sets in, sweating decreases and may even cease altogether. The skin becomes hot and dry, breathing becomes shallow, and the pulse becomes rapid and weak. Body temperature rises drastically, and without prompt treatment, the affected person may lose consciousness and face a life-threatening situation, even leading to death.
Heatstroke can be avoided by gradually getting used to hot weather conditions. However, if it does occur, immediate emergency measures are required. These include cooling the affected person by enveloping them in a cold, damp sheet, using a fan to promote air circulation around the body, sponging with water, and providing the individual with a salt solution to drink.