Understanding Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

As heat waves become increasingly common, it’s essential to stay cool not only for comfort but also to actively avoid heat exhaustion and its more severe counterpart, heat stroke. Knowing the signs of both conditions can help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Source: lifehacker.com

Heat stroke is a serious condition that can lead to seizures, organ failure, and more. Before heat stroke occurs, a milder condition called heat exhaustion takes place. Both conditions arise when the body overheats. Normally, our bodies try to cool us down by transporting hot blood from the core to the surface of the skin, where we radiate that heat into our environment. The evaporation resulting from sweating also helps to cool the skin. However, we get into trouble when the environment is too hot or too humid for these mechanisms to cool us down.

Risk Factors for Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke

Heat stroke in healthy individuals is often associated with exercise, as physical activity raises the core temperature. This is particularly true for those who are not very fit or who are accustomed to working out in cooler weather. As the body adapts to exercising in the heat, it learns to cool itself more efficiently.

The following factors increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

• Exercising in high temperatures and humidity
• Poor fitness
• Being large (regardless of body type—having a lot of fat or a lot of muscle both affect the ability to cool down)
• Dehydration
• Wearing or carrying gear, like football pads or a hiking pack
• Drinking alcohol
• Using certain medications or supplements, including beta blockers and diuretics (check the information that came with your medications)
• Any disability or illness that makes it harder to get out of the heat or to cool oneself

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs when the core body temperature is elevated, but not enough to involve the brain. If you or an overheated friend shows any sign of confusion, assume it’s heat stroke and seek medical help right away.

The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue or weakness
• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale, and clammy skin
• A fast, weak pulse

If you begin to feel these symptoms, start cooling yourself down right away: move to the shade or air conditioning, loosen your clothing, have a cold drink, and keep watch for any signs that you’re feeling worse or not getting better. If you haven’t recovered within an hour, seek medical help.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature is extremely high (over 104, taken rectally) and can affect the brain as well as the body. The person with heat stroke may be too confused to realize they are in danger, so it’s critical to watch out for signs of the illness in other people.

Heat stroke is a serious condition, so if you suspect it, get medical help right away. If you’re at an event with medical staff (like if you’re running a marathon or playing in a football game), alert them. Otherwise, call 911 or the emergency number for your area. Signs of heat stroke can include some of the symptoms above, like headache, dizziness, and nausea, plus:

• Confusion, irritability, or hallucination
• Passing out or collapsing
• Trouble walking
• Reddened skin, with or without sweating

You can help the person cool down while you wait for help. Medical staff may decide it’s best to cool the person down before transporting them to a hospital, but that depends on whether the person needs other medical treatment. The ideal way to cool down a person with heat stroke is to put them in a tub of cold water with ice, and stir the water constantly.

If that’s not possible, a cold shower or a cold hose can work, or apply ice-cold wet towels to the person’s body. Swap them out every three minutes, or whenever they stop being icy cold.