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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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