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> Heat Exhaustion
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Heat Exhaustion
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HEAT EXHAUSTION
- Moist and clammy skin, usually pale
- Pupils dilated
- Normal or subnormal temperature
- Weak, dizzy or faint
- Headache
- No appetite, nausea
There are two basic kinds of heat exhaustion:
- Salt-depletion, in which unacclimatized individuals exert themselves and drink enough water, but do not replace the salt.
- Water depletion, which usually occurs among the elderly or chronically ill who do not drink enough water during extreme heat. This type of heat exhaustion is characterized by extreme anxiety and agitation, intense thirst, headache, weakness, fever, muscular in-coordination and decreased sweating.
Signs and Symptoms
Primary signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are much like flu symptoms. They can include the following:
- Headache, giddiness and extreme weakness.
- Nausea and possible vomiting.
- Dizziness and fainting, profuse sweating.
- Loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea.
- Collapse and unconsciousness (usually brief).
- Below-normal body temperature or normal body temperature; in occasional cases, body temperature may be slightly elevated.
- Dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse.
- Rapid, shallow breathing.
- Pale, cool, sweaty skin, usually ashen gray in color.
- Possible heat cramps or muscular aches.
- Inelastic skin.
- Difficulty in walking.
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