Preventing Heat Stroke and Exhaustion

Treating Symptoms of Classic and Exertional

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people in the United States die each year from heat stroke or heat related illness than any other environmental cause, including hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

It is the third leading cause of death among American athletes. Heat stroke is preventable, so what is it and how do we prevent overheating from progressing to brain damage and death?

The Human Body and Thermoregulation

The human body has an amazing ability to maintain proper operating temperature by means of thermoregulation. In circumstances when the biological response is overwhelmed by environmental conditions, heat exhaustion or heat stroke may occur.

Classic heat stroke as most often experienced by older adults may result from exposure over 2 or 3 days, such as summer heat waves.

Exertional heat stroke occurs more rapidly, like when an athlete experiences excessive increase in body temperature from a combination of factors which may include exercise, high ambient temperature, and high humidity. In fact athletes can experience heat stroke in relatively cool temperatures resulting from heat produced by physical exercise.

Preventing Heat Stroke

How can you avoid heat stroke? Know the risk factors. Many types of medications inhibit the body's normal response to heat stress. Other factors include a sedentary indoor lifestyle, obesity, alcohol intake, skin disorders, and dehydration.

Once the body's ability to compensate and cool is exhausted, your core body temperature can rise to 106 degrees in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. One may progress from heat stress to heat exhaustion and heat stroke rapidly.

Heat Stroke Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include weakness, nausea, vomiting, profuse or totally absent sweating, rapid heart rate, unconsciousness, and elevated temperature. If you suspect heat stroke get medical attention immediately. These steps also help:

• Move the person to a cooler area if possible, fan to aid in cooling.
• Use water from a hose or mist combined with a fan.
• Total body emersion in tepid (lukewarm) water.
• Ice packs to underarms, groin and neck in conjunction with spray bottles and fanning.

The important thing is rapid cooling. Avoid shivering as this is the body's attempt to keep the temperature up. Vigorous massage of the skin while cooling may help prevent shivering. 15% of people with heat stroke will die even with aggressive treatment and of the survivors 20 percent may have brain damage.