Do I Have Heat Stroke?

Did you engage in any energetic physical activity (exercise or work) during the hot weather?

Have you been exposed to high temperatures for an extended period of time (gardening, walking or riding a bike)?

Do you have a body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher?

Do you have odd or bizarre behavior?

Do you have confusion, delirium, or slurred speech?

Do you have agitation and irritability?

Do you have flushed skin?

Does your skin feel hot and dry to the touch?

Do you have dizziness or loss of consciousness?

Do you have a throbbing headache?

Do you have rapid and shallow breathing or racing heart rate?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have heat stroke. Heat stroke is a condition that occurs as a result of the overheating of the body. It is the most severe form of heat-related illness and it is considered as an urgent medical condition. It usually occurs in the summer months after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The body cools down by sweating. However, at very high temperatures, the body heats up faster than it manages to cool down with the usual mechanisms, resulting in increased body temperature. Heat stroke usually occurs as a result of inadequate treatment of a milder form of heat-related illness.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have heat stroke. Heat stoke is a heat-related illness characterized by a core body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher, accompanied by symptoms of altered mental state or behavior. Depending on how long the body temperature is high, heat stroke can cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. It usually affects people over the age of 50, but there are cases when it also affects healthy young athletes. Your doctor can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a physical examination. Additional tests can help assess the extent of possible organ damage.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have heat stroke. Heat stroke is a potentially life-threatening form of heat illness. There are two basic forms of heat stroke: exertional heat stroke resulting from vigorous physical activity in a hot environment (playing sports, exercising) and nonexertional heat stroke usually occurring in people with reduced ability to regulate body temperature (elderly, children and people with chronic diseases). Treatment involves cooling the body with various techniques to prevent damage to the brain and vital organs. A person with heat stroke must be treated in a hospital, and complete recovery can take several months.