Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Basics
Description
- A continuum of increasingly severe illness caused by dehydration, electrolyte losses, and failure of thermoregulatory mechanisms when exposed to elevated environmental temperatures
- Can be exertional (related to activity) or non-exertional
- System(s) affected: endocrine/metabolic, nervous, hepatic, hematologic
- Synonym(s): heat illness; heat injury; hyperthermia; heat collapse; heat prostration
Geriatric Considerations
Elderly persons are more susceptible.
Pediatric Considerations
Children are more susceptible.
Pregnancy Considerations
Pregnant women may be more susceptible to volume depletion with heat stress.
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: more likely in children or elderly
- Predominant sex: male = female
Incidence
- Depends on intensity of heat; estimate of 20/100,000 persons per season
- Concern for increasing incidence because ambient environmental temperatures continue to rise
Prevalence
- Depends on predisposing conditions in combination with environmental factors
- Roughly 600 deaths per year in the United States
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Excess heat has direct cellular toxicity. Excess heat also leads to an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, vascular endothelial damage, and end-organ dysfunction.
- Interplay between failure of heat-dissipating mechanisms, an overwhelming heat stress, and an exaggerated acute-phase inflammatory response
Risk Factors
- Poor acclimatization to heat
- Poor physical conditioning
- Salt or water depletion
- Obesity
- Acute febrile or GI illnesses
- Chronic illnesses: uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease
- Alcohol and other substance abuse
- High heat and humidity, poor environmental air circulation
- Heavy, restrictive clothing
- Nutritional supplements (e.g., ephedra) (2)
- Medications (α-adrenergics, anticholinergics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, clopidogrel, diuretics, laxatives, neuroleptics, phenothiazines, thyroid agonists, tricyclic antidepressants) (1)
General Prevention
- The most important factor in preventing heat illness is prevention. Activity modification and adequate fluid replacement are key preventive measures.
- Allow acclimatization through proper conditioning and activity modification.
- Dress appropriately with loose-fitting, open-weaved, light-colored clothing.
- Consume a proper volume of fluids, particularly during physical activity in hot environments.
- Never leave children (or pets) unattended in cars during hot weather.
- Try to gain access to air-conditioned environments during hot weather.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688398/all/Heat_Illness:_Heat_Exhaustion_and_Heat_Stroke.
Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688398/all/Heat_Illness:_Heat_Exhaustion_and_Heat_Stroke. Accessed October 10, 2024.
Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688398/all/Heat_Illness:_Heat_Exhaustion_and_Heat_Stroke
Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 10]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688398/all/Heat_Illness:_Heat_Exhaustion_and_Heat_Stroke.
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