Medical Health Encyclopedia

Heat emergencies

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U W

Heat emergencies

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Heat emergencies

Definition:

Heat emergencies fall into three categories of increasing severity: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

Alternative Names:

Text Continues Below

---

Heatstroke

Considerations:

Heat illnesses are easily preventable by taking precautions in hot weather.

Children, elderly, and obese people have a higher risk of developing heat illness. People taking certain medications or drinking alcohol also have a higher risk. However, even a top athlete in superb condition can succumb to heat illness if he or she ignores the warning signs.

If the problem isn't addressed, heat cramps (caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating) can lead to heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration), which can progress to heatstroke. Heatstroke, the most serious of the three, can cause shock, brain damage, organ failure, and even death.

Causes:

The following are common causes of heat emergencies:

• High temperatures or humidity
• Dehydration
• Prolonged or excessive exercise
• Excess clothing
• Alcohol use
• Medications, such as diuretics, neuroleptics, phenothiazines, and anticholinergics
• Cardiovascular disease
• Sweat gland dysfunction

References:

Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine. 4^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001:240-316.

DeLee JC, Drez, Jr., D, Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez’s Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2^nd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003:763.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.