Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Overview
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Causes
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Authors and Editors
- Related heat stroke articles:
Heat stroke - on WebMD
Heat stroke - on MedicineNet
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Overview
Heat exhaustion: This condition often occurs when people exercise (work or play) in a hot, humid place and body fluids are lost through sweating, causing the body to overheat. The person's temperature may be elevated, but not above 104°F.
Heat stroke: This medical condition is life-threatening. The person's cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point where brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result (temperature may reach 105+°F).
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Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Shock Overview
The word shock is used differently by the medical community and the general public. The connotation by the public is an intense emotional reaction to a stressful situation or piece of news. Its medical meaning is much different.
Medically, shock is defined as a condition where the tissues in the body don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients to allow the cells to function. This ultimately leads to cellular death, progressing to organ failure and finally, to whole body failure and death.
How the body works
Cells need two things to function: oxygen and glucose. This allows the cells to generate energy and do their specific jobs.
Oxygen in the air enters the body through the lungs; where oxygen molecules cross into the smallest blood vessels, the capillaries, and are picked up by red blood cells and attached to hemoglobin molecules. The red blood cells are pushed through the body by the actions of the pu...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke »
Heat illness is a major cause of preventable morbidity worldwide, especially in regions characterized by high ambient temperatures.
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