Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke: Get to Know the Differences

When summer is about to strike, it’s not just sunburn that you have to be wary about, but also heat exhaustion. Then there is also heat stroke that may strike most especially during the hottest months of the year.

Many people think that heat exhaustion and heat stroke are one and the same. However, they are completely different things, and one of them can be fatal if not dealt with promptly.

If you like to know the key differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, continue reading. This article will get you introduced to some of the most important matters you need to know about heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Don’t forget to share this article afterwards on your various social media sites to let your family members and friends also become aware of them, which can help keep them out of harm’s way.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, more than 600 people in the United States die of complications from exposure to extreme heat every year.

That’s unfortunate because illnesses and deaths related to heat are actually preventable, provided that everyone knows the warning signs as well as what to do when those indicators are encountered.

As earlier mentioned heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two different things, and it’s important to know one from the other so that you may take the appropriate actions to prevent complications and even death.

Simply put, heat exhaustion is the overheating of the body. It’s something that can be due to engaging in activities under the sun for a really long time, although it can also be due to intense exercise.

You can tell that what you are experiencing is heat exhaustion if you have nausea and a headache, and you are sweating profusely. You also tend to feel fatigued, and your pulse is racing and your skin feels cool.

These indicators of heat exhaustion can show up over an extended period of time, but they may also appear suddenly most especially right after engaging in intense physical activities or exercise.

If you feel that you are suffering from heat exhaustion, make sure that you stop whatever you are doing. Get out of the sun and go to a cool place. Loosen your clothes and drink plenty of fluids to help cool down your body.

You may also place ice packs in the armpits or groin to facilitate the cooling down of your body. If ice packs are not available, splash some water on your body to get rid of excessive heat.

It’s a must for you to spring into action right away if you feel that you are experiencing heat exhaustion because it may lead to heat stroke, which is something that can actually put your life in danger.

Unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke does not cause you to sweat profusely. And when your skin is touched, it’s actually hot and dry rather than cool and moist. Your body temperature can rise to 104°F (40°C) or even higher.

That is not a good sign because your vital organs like the kidneys, heart and brain can be damaged at such temperature. What you need to do if it seems like someone is suffering from a heat stroke is call 911.

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