Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- 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
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Symptoms
Heat exhaustion symptoms
- Often pale with cool, moist skin
- Sweating profusely
- Muscle cramps or pains
- Feels faint or dizzy
- May complain of headache, weakness, thirst, and
nausea
- Core (rectal) temperature elevated-usually more than 100°F-and the pulse rate increased
Heat stroke symptoms
- Unconscious or has a markedly abnormal mental status (dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, or coma)
- Flushed, hot, and dry skin (although it may be moist initially from previous sweating or from attempts to cool the person with water)
- May have slightly elevated blood pressure at first that falls later
- May be hyperventilating
- Rectal (core) temperature of 105°F or more
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
From WebMD
First Aid Resources
- Your Child's Changes: What to Expect
- Health Care Reform: Your Questions Answered
- Is That Rash Shingles?
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
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.
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds



