Heat stroke is a type of hyperthermia. It is a very serious condition that results in the body's internal temperature reaching a high, unhealthy and sometimes life-altering state. Heat stroke occurs when the body's internal core temperature reaches 104.9 Fahrenheit. Heat stroke is generally caused by one or a combination of things such as exposure to direct temperature and heat, lack of fluid intake and increased physical activity. Once the body's temperature has climbed, organs are working their hardest and may quickly begin to shut down or fail.
Shock
One of the main complications of heatstroke is shock. Shock can be a direct result of the body's response to being overheated, or it can begin to affect vital organs such as the heart. If the heatstroke begins to affect the heart, it can develop into cardiogenic shock. This is caused by the heart not pumping and distributing blood properly to the rest of the body. Shock can cause myriad symptoms such as confusion, profuse sweating, anxiety, dizziness, chest pain and shallow breathing. If the shock is left untreated, it can damage the central nervous system by causing cerebral edema, seizures, brain damage and coma.
Organ Damage
Organ damage can occur as a direct result of heatstroke. When the body temperature begins to rise, it can begin to affect the pulmonary system. Pulmonary edema is the accumulation of fluid in and around the lungs and heart. It can lead to respiratory distress syndrome, causing the patient to breathe erratically with extreme difficulty. Life-threatening arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats can also occur. This could be a direct result from the heart not being able to function at its full capacity. Congestive heart failure could also occur. This can negatively affect the entire circulatory system and the function of the entire body. Heatstroke can lead to hypotension, where blood pressure levels drop dangerously low. Damage to the liver can begin as the body begins to respond to the sudden rise in temperature. Renal failure is also a common occurrence.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
Heatstroke is not a condition that should be taken mildly. It can have very serious consequences and result in complete organ failure and death if not treated properly. Heatstroke can develop into a condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation or DIC. DIC occurs as a response to the high core temperature in the body. It causes blood clots to form inside blood vessels throughout the body. This happens as the proteins in the blood that control clotting begin to overwork themselves. It can develop very rapidly and be difficult to treat. As the body forms multiple clots, the clots begin to cut off a direct supply of blood to major organs---resulting in organ failure. It can also cause a person to bleed severely, resulting in severe and fatal drops in blood pressure.
