Heat stroke is an illness marked by an elevation in the body's temperature, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperature.The condition is most common in the summer months and it is the most serious heat-related illness.Heat stroke is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated.Untreated heat stroke can quickly damage multiple organs including the brain, lungs, liver, muscles, digestive tracts, circulatory system and kidneys.The longer treatment is delayed, the more the damage worsens, increasing the risk of serious complications and even death.The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the condition kills more than 600 people in the United States each year.There are two types of heat stroke: exertional and non-exertional.Exertional heat stroke occurs in people whose bodies are no longer able to adapt to rising temperatures due to intense physical activities, such as exercising or working in hot weather.Non-exertional heat stroke occurs in people who are unable to adapt well to an increasingly hot temperature in a hot environment.Causes:Exposure to a hot environment; strenuous work in hot weather or a heated room; dehydration; alcohol consumption; wearing excess clothing.
