Definition

A heat stroke is characterized by overexposure to heat on the human body. In general, it occurs when a person is exposed to high temperatures for too long or exerts physical effort under these environmental conditions. It is very common, for example, in athletes during the summer months.

It is a serious pathology , since the human body reaches a temperature equal to or greater than 40°C. Remember that the average temperature, although it may vary from one person to another depending on various conditions, is 36.5°C.

Due to its serious condition , suffering a heat stroke requires acting quickly and efficiently. A pathology of these characteristics has dire consequences for our body. It could damage organs , such as:

• Brain.
• Heart.
• Kidneys.
• certain muscles.
• In the worst cases it can cause more serious complications or even death. In the following sections we will deal with the most common symptoms so that you can identify it and act on time. It’s better to prevent than to cure!

Causes of heat stroke

Although it may seem obvious, there are various causes that can cause heat stroke. We will tell you about the most common ones:

• Overexposure to high temperatures . It occurs when a person is exposed for a long time to a hot environment that, consequently, generates an increase in their body temperature.
• Physical exercise in hot environments . In this case, the person who suffers from it is doing intense physical activity in a hot or humid climate.
• Use of inappropriate clothing . Wearing too much clothing or fabrics that are not very breathable will prevent the sweat you generate from evaporating and, therefore, cool and regulate your body.
• booze . Due to its vasodilator effect, alcohol increases the chances of suffering a heat stroke, since it is more complex for the body to act on the regulation of body temperature.
• Lack of hydration . Not drinking enough liquid in hot environments.

Differences between heat stroke and sunstroke

In hot weather, one of the most common mistakes is to confuse heat stroke and sunstroke. In fact, there are many people who treat them as synonymous concepts.

While the symptoms are very similar between the two conditions, they are not the same. Heat stroke , for its part, is produced by the direct action of the sun’s rays protect your skin. Some of its symptoms are:

• Fever.

• Feeling of extreme heat.

• reddened skin

• Delirious feeling.

Of course, heat stroke occurs when the body is not capable of processing the high temperatures to which it is exposed. It can be, as we have seen, as a result of physical overexertion or, also, due to the climate in question, that is, because our body is not used to it.

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