How to Distinguish Heat Exhaustion From Heat Stroke

As heat waves become more common, it’s important not only to stay cool for comfort but also to actively avoid heat exhaustion and its more serious counterpart, heatstroke. Knowing the signs of both conditions will help keep you, your friends, and your family safe.

Heatstroke is a serious condition that can lead to seizures, organ failure, and other consequences. Before heatstroke, a person may experience a milder condition called heat exhaustion . Both conditions occur when the body overheats. Normally, our body tries to cool us by pumping hot blood from the core to the surface of the skin, where we radiate this heat into the environment. Evaporation caused by sweating also helps cool the skin. Problems arise when the environment is too hot or too humid for these mechanisms to cool us.

Who is at risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Heatstroke in healthy people is often associated with exercise, as it increases body temperature. This is especially true if you’re not in great shape or if you’re used to exercising in cool weather. As you become accustomed to exercising in hot weather , your body learns to cool itself more effectively.

Factors that increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke include:

• Exercise in high temperatures and humidity

• Poor physical condition

• Large size (regardless of body type – both excess fat and excess muscle affect the body’s ability to cool itself)

• Dehydration

• Wearing or carrying equipment, such as soccer equipment or a hiking backpack.

• Alcohol consumption

• Taking certain medications or dietary supplements, including beta blockers and diuretics (check the information that comes with your medications).

• Any disability or illness that makes it more difficult for you to get out of the heat or cool down.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion occurs when body temperature rises, but not enough to affect the brain. If you or an overheated friend shows any signs of confusion, such as heatstroke, consider heat exhaustion and seek immediate medical attention.

According to the CDC , signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may include the following:

• Dizziness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Headache

• Fatigue or weakness

• Heavy sweating

• Cold, pale and clammy skin

• Rapid, weak pulse

If you experience these symptoms, begin cooling down immediately: move to the shade or to an air-conditioned area, loosen your clothing, drink a cold drink, and monitor for any signs of worsening or lack of improvement. If you don’t feel better within an hour, seek medical attention .

Signs and symptoms of heat stroke

Heatstroke occurs when the body temperature is extremely high (above 40 degrees Celsius, measured rectally) and can affect both the brain and body. A person suffering from heatstroke may be too disoriented to realize they are in danger , so it is crucial to monitor others for signs of this condition.

Heatstroke is a serious condition, so if you suspect it, seek medical attention immediately. If you are at an event with medical personnel (such as running a marathon or playing soccer), notify them. Otherwise, call 911 or your local emergency services. Signs of heatstroke may include some of the symptoms listed above, such as headache, dizziness, and nausea, as well as:

• Confusion, irritability, or hallucinations

• Loss of consciousness or fainting

• Difficulty walking

• Seizures

• Redness of the 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 before transporting them to the hospital, but this depends on whether the person needs other medical treatment. The ideal way to cool someone with heatstroke is to place them in a tub of cold water and ice, stirring the water constantly.

If this isn’t possible, take a cold shower, hose down the victim with cold water, or apply ice-cold, wet towels to the body. Change them every three minutes or whenever they stop being freezing.

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