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