What Is Heatstroke?
Heatstroke is officially referred to as the condition when the body’s core temperature rises higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit. At that gauge, internal damage to the brain and organs begins to take place. The nervous system begins to break down and then it is a scary, painful decline from there. People older than 50 are typically most at risk. But fit athletes training in the sun, for instance, are equally at risk.
The usual culprits are dehydration and overexposure to extreme temperatures. Prolonged exposure usually results in the body’s inability to regulate its temperature. What happens then are a slew of scary symptoms that signal heatstroke.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headache, possibly coupled with lightheadedness and disorientation
• Lack of perspiration
• Red, patchy and dry skin
• Weak or cramping muscles
• Rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing
• Seizures and loss of consciousness