Heatstroke is a condition caused by your body overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures. This most serious form of heat injury, heatstroke can occur if your body temperature rises to 104 F (40 C) or higher.
Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious complications or death.
SYMPTOMS
Heatstroke symptoms include:
High body temperature. A body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher is the main sign of heatstroke.Altered mental state or behavior. Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke.Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry to the touch. However, in heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel moist.Nausea and vomiting. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit.Flushed skin. Your skin may turn red as your body temperature increases.Rapid breathing. Your breathing may become rapid and shallow.Racing heart rate. Your pulse may significantly increase because heat stress places a tremendous burden on your heart to help cool your body.Headache. Your head may throb.
If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help. Call 911 or your local emergency services number.
Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment.
Get the person into shade or indoors.Remove excess clothing.Cool the person with whatever means available — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits and groin.Then see a doctor.
CAUSES
Heatstroke can occur as a result of:
Exposure to a hot environment. In a type of heatstroke, called nonexertional or classic heatstroke, being in a hot environment leads to a rise in body temperature. This type of heatstroke typically occurs after exposure to hot, humid weather, especially for prolonged periods, such as two or three days. It occurs most often in older adults and in people with chronic illness.Strenuous activity. Exertional heatstroke is caused by an increase in body temperature brought on by intense physical activity in hot weather. Anyone exercising or working in hot weather can get exertional heatstroke, but it's most likely to occur if you're not used to high temperatures.
In either type of heatstroke, your condition can be brought on by:
Wearing excess clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating easily and cooling your bodyDrinking alcohol, which can affect your body's ability to regulate your temperatureBecoming dehydrated by not drinking enough water to replenish fluids lost through sweating
COMPLICATIONS
Heatstroke can result in a number of complications, depending on how long the body temperature is high. Severe complications include:
Vital organ damage. Without a quick response to lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause your brain or other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage.Death. Without prompt and adequate treatment, heatstroke can be fatal.
DIAGNOSIS
It's usually apparent to doctors if you have heatstroke, but laboratory tests can confirm their diagnosis, rule out other causes for your symptoms and assess organ damage. These tests include:
A blood test to check blood sodium or potassium and the content of gases in your blood to see if there's been damage to your central nervous systemA urine test to check the color of your urine, because it's usually darker if you have a heat-related condition, and to check your kidney function, which can be affected by heatstrokeMuscle function tests to check for serious damage to your muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)X-rays and other imaging tests to check for damage to your internal organs
TREATMENT
Heatstroke treatment centers on cooling your body to a normal temperature to prevent or reduce damage to your brain and vital organs. To do this, your doctor may take these steps:
Immerse you in cold water. A bath of cold or ice water can quickly lower your temperature.Use evaporation cooling techniques. Some doctors prefer to use evaporation instead of immersion to lower your body temperature. In this technique, cool water is misted on your skin while warm air fanned over your body causes the water to evaporate, cooling the skin.Pack you with ice and cooling blankets. Another method is to wrap you in a special cooling blanket and apply ice packs to your groin, neck, back and armpits to lower your temperature.Give you medications to stop your shivering. If treatments to lower your body temperature make you shiver, your doctor may give you a muscle relaxant, such as a benzodiazepine. Shivering increases your body temperature, making treatment less effective.
Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Untreated heatstroke can quickly damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The damage worsens the longer treatment is delayed, increasing your risk of serious complications or death.
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| Heatstroke |
Heatstroke symptoms include:
High body temperature. A body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher is the main sign of heatstroke.Altered mental state or behavior. Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke.Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry to the touch. However, in heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel moist.Nausea and vomiting. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit.Flushed skin. Your skin may turn red as your body temperature increases.Rapid breathing. Your breathing may become rapid and shallow.Racing heart rate. Your pulse may significantly increase because heat stress places a tremendous burden on your heart to help cool your body.Headache. Your head may throb.
If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help. Call 911 or your local emergency services number.
Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment.
Get the person into shade or indoors.Remove excess clothing.Cool the person with whatever means available — put in a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spray with a garden hose, sponge with cool water, fan while misting with cool water, or place ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person's head, neck, armpits and groin.Then see a doctor.
CAUSES
Heatstroke can occur as a result of:
Exposure to a hot environment. In a type of heatstroke, called nonexertional or classic heatstroke, being in a hot environment leads to a rise in body temperature. This type of heatstroke typically occurs after exposure to hot, humid weather, especially for prolonged periods, such as two or three days. It occurs most often in older adults and in people with chronic illness.Strenuous activity. Exertional heatstroke is caused by an increase in body temperature brought on by intense physical activity in hot weather. Anyone exercising or working in hot weather can get exertional heatstroke, but it's most likely to occur if you're not used to high temperatures.
In either type of heatstroke, your condition can be brought on by:
Wearing excess clothing that prevents sweat from evaporating easily and cooling your bodyDrinking alcohol, which can affect your body's ability to regulate your temperatureBecoming dehydrated by not drinking enough water to replenish fluids lost through sweating
COMPLICATIONS
Heatstroke can result in a number of complications, depending on how long the body temperature is high. Severe complications include:
Vital organ damage. Without a quick response to lower body temperature, heatstroke can cause your brain or other vital organs to swell, possibly resulting in permanent damage.Death. Without prompt and adequate treatment, heatstroke can be fatal.
DIAGNOSIS
It's usually apparent to doctors if you have heatstroke, but laboratory tests can confirm their diagnosis, rule out other causes for your symptoms and assess organ damage. These tests include:
A blood test to check blood sodium or potassium and the content of gases in your blood to see if there's been damage to your central nervous systemA urine test to check the color of your urine, because it's usually darker if you have a heat-related condition, and to check your kidney function, which can be affected by heatstrokeMuscle function tests to check for serious damage to your muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)X-rays and other imaging tests to check for damage to your internal organs
TREATMENT
Heatstroke treatment centers on cooling your body to a normal temperature to prevent or reduce damage to your brain and vital organs. To do this, your doctor may take these steps:
Immerse you in cold water. A bath of cold or ice water can quickly lower your temperature.Use evaporation cooling techniques. Some doctors prefer to use evaporation instead of immersion to lower your body temperature. In this technique, cool water is misted on your skin while warm air fanned over your body causes the water to evaporate, cooling the skin.Pack you with ice and cooling blankets. Another method is to wrap you in a special cooling blanket and apply ice packs to your groin, neck, back and armpits to lower your temperature.Give you medications to stop your shivering. If treatments to lower your body temperature make you shiver, your doctor may give you a muscle relaxant, such as a benzodiazepine. Shivering increases your body temperature, making treatment less effective.
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| Heatstroke First Aid |
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