Heat stroke strikes after prolonged exposure to sun or heat and is considered a life-threatening emergency. Babies and children under 4 years old are at high risk of developing heat stroke, along with people over 65, overweight individuals and people who are ill.
Heat Emergencies
Heat stroke is the most serious condition in a series of heat emergencies that may occur in extremely hot weather conditions, explains Medline Plus. The first in the series of problems is heat cramps, a condition stemming from a loss of salts due to perspiration. If left to progress without treatment, heat cramps will develop into heat exhaustion, which is characterized by dehydration and heavy sweating. Soon after heat exhaustion strikes, the sweating mechanism of the body may fail, and the condition soon progresses into heat stroke.
Symptoms
In heat stroke, the body temperature rises above 103 degrees Fahrenheit and may shoot above 106 degrees within 10 to 15 minutes, according to the CDC. The skin will stop perspiring and turn red and dry. Dizziness, nausea, confusion and a loss of consciousness may soon follow. The afflicted individual may go into shock and die rapidly after the onset of symptoms.
Causes
Heat stroke can be caused by internal or external factors that elevate body temperature, explains the Mayo Clinic. External sources are typically environmental conditions or high-temperature conditions in an enclosed space, including extremely hot and humid weather or excessive time spent in overheated saunas, steam rooms, sweat lodges or hot tubs. Internal sources include any activity that raises body temperature, especially if the rise in temperature is rapid. The two types of sources can combine, and strenuous exercise in a hot environment may lead to the rapid onset of heat stroke.
Treatment
First aid for heat stroke can be applied while waiting for medical assistance, but because the disorder can quickly become fatal, the affected person should be brought to a hospital as soon as possible. For heat cramps and mild heat exhaustion, cooling the person off and providing electrolyte-containing drinks may be enough to prevent further development of a heat emergency. At the hospital, a heat stroke victim will be treated with immersion in cold water, evaporative cooling with mists or packing in a cooling blanket, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Prevention
Prevention of heat stroke centers around watching for the signs of heat emergencies before they reach the point of an actual heat stroke and avoiding activities that could contribute to these types of problems. Drinking plenty of fluids, protecting the body from the sun and choosing cooler parts of the day to do strenuous activity are ways that someone can avoid heat stroke, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
