Overview of heat illness

[Lizzy Liz]

Heat illness encompasses a number of disorders ranging in severity from muscle cramps and heat exhaustion to heatstroke (which is a life-threatening emergency). Heat illness, although preventable, affects thousands of people each year in the US and can be fatal; it is the second leading cause of death in young athletes. When heatstroke is not treated promptly and effectively, mortality approaches 80%.
Patients with heat exhaustion maintain the ability to dissipate heat and have normal central nervous system (CNS) function. In heatstroke, compensatory mechanisms for heat dissipation fail (although sweating may still be present) and CNS function is impaired. Heatstroke should be considered in patients with hyperthermia and an altered mental status or other CNS dysfunction, regardless of sweating.