Environ

Heat Stress

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Heat Stress

  • See Also
  1. Heat Illness
  2. Heat Exhaustion
  3. Heat Stroke
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Body response to excessive heat load
  2. Heat Stroke is the most mild form on continuum to Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
  • Symptoms
  1. Heat-related discomfort
  2. Decreased Exercise tolerance
  3. Unacclimatized patients may experience more systemic symptoms, but core Temperature remains normal
  • Signs
  1. Core Temperature unchanged (<38 C or 100.4 F)
  2. Contrast with Heat Exhaustion where core Temperature rises above 38 C (100.4 F) associated with systemic symptoms
  3. Contrast with Heat Stroke where core Temperature rises above 40 C (104 F), asssociated with altered consciousness
  • Management
  1. Move to shaded or cooler environment
  2. Maintain hydration
  • References
  1. Salinas and Ruttan (2017) Crit Dec Emerg Med 31(9): 3-10
  2. Gauer (2019) Am Fam Physician 99(8):482-9 [PubMed]