Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is one condition on the spectrum of raised body temperature derived from a heat illness. Other heat illnesses include heat cramps and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is caused by the raising of a person's body temperature from either environmental conditions or by exertion. A raised internal body temperature can induce high amounts of perspiration out of the body. Which can lead to the loss of water, salt, and electrolytes.^[1]^[2]

Prevention of any heat-related illness includes drinking adequate fluids, avoiding exercise in hot weather, avoiding medications that can lead to heat exhaustion, and removing or loosening clothing.^[1]^[2]^[3]

skin tingling

nausea

dizziness

irritability

headache

fatigue

vomiting

high body temperature

and excessive sweating.^[4]

[1]

Common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

These symptoms may also fall under other heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat syncope. Heat stroke is a severe condition as heat-related illness and falls closely to similar symptoms to heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat stroke that differ from heat exhaustion include hot but dry skin, flushed coloration of the skin, and central nervous system dysfunction. Heat stroke is much more severe in nature in comparison to heat exhaustion in that it can lead to multi-organ failure and death.^[5]

Hot, sunny, humid weather

Physical exertion, especially in hot, humid weather

Due to impaired , elderly people and infants can get serious heat illness even at rest, if the weather outside is hot and humid, and they are not getting enough cool air.

thermoregulation

Some drugs, such as , antihistamines, beta-blockers, alcohol, MDMA ('Ecstasy', 'Molly'), and other amphetamines can cause an increase in the risk of heat exhaustion.^[7]

diuretics

Common causes of heat exhaustion include:^[6]

Especially during physical exertion, risk factors for heat exhaustion include:^[6]

medical professionals when conducting a blood test look for low blood sugar or potassium. They may also look for the presence of unwanted gases in a patients blood.^[1]^[2]

Blood test

an urinalysis or urine test is a test to measure color, clarity, pH levels, glucose concentration, and protein levels.^[8] The test additionally can check a patients kidney function, which is common to be affected by classic heat stroke.^[2]

Urinalysis

Muscle function tests, medical professionals use muscle function tests to check for . Which is severe damage to a persons skeletal muscle tissue.^[9]

rhabdomyolysis

A diagnosis of heat exhaustion most commonly is diagnosed by medical professionals with various physical examinations. Through examination a patient would have their temperature checked and question about your recent activity.^[1] If the medical professionals suspect a patients heat exhaustion has progressed into heat stroke they may then lead with these varying tests to verify;