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You are here : 3-RX.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Injuries and Wounds > Heat Emergencies
      Category : Health Centers > First Aid

Heat Emergencies

Alternate Names : Heat Stroke, Heat Hyperpyrexia, Thermic Fever, Siriasis

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring

A heat emergency occurs when the heat-regulating mechanism in the body is not working correctly. The results of this malfunctioning can include high fever, collapse, convulsions, coma, and even death. A heat emergency generally occurs when the body is exposed to very high temperatures.

What are the causes and risks of the injury?

Heat emergencies are generally caused by:

  • exercising for long periods of time or in very hot or hot and humid weather
  • wearing heavy clothes or many layers of clothing in hot weather
  • Factors that raise a person's risk of suffering a heat emergency include:

  • very young or very old age
  • alcohol use
  • medication use. Medications that can aggravate the problem include amphetamines, tranquilizers, antihistamines, and anticholinergics.
  • heart disease such as coronary artery disease
  • dehydration
  • poor acclimation to hot climate
  • malfunctioning of sweat glands

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    Next section

       

    Heat Emergencies: Symptoms & Signs

    Author: Adam Brochert, MD
    Reviewer: Gail Hendrickson, RN, BS
    Date Reviewed: 04/18/00



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