It’s easy to do: a few drinks in the sun, or a beach trip that’s gone on a little longer than planned. Still, you can get ill or even risk your life if you overheat.

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion break the body’s natural “thermostat” and mean you get dangerously hotter and hotter.

But what’s the difference between them? And when is it an emergency?

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion happens when the body gets too hot and dehydrated. ¹ You can no longer sweat to cool yourself down and your body temperature can rise until it’s dangerously high. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: ¹

a high temperature
tiredness and weakness
dizziness
feeling or being sick
becoming very thirsty
fast breathing or heartbeat
muscle cramps
clammy skin, paleness (on lighter skin tones), or excessive sweating

Heat exhaustion isn’t usually a medical emergency if you can cool the person down within 30 minutes. However, it can develop into heatstroke if it gets worse.

What is heatstroke?

Also called “sun stroke”, heatstroke also happens when the body gets dangerously hot. However, it’s potentially life-threatening and is an emergency. ¹, ²

You may see symptoms similar to heat exhaustion at first, like sickness, dizziness, and extreme high temperature.

Call 999 if you or someone else have not recovered after 30 minutes in a cool place, being cooled and drinking fluids.

Or if you or someone else are experiencing: skin that is very hot but not sweating; confusion, irritability, or delusion; a seizure or fit; or loss of consciousness.

Preventing heat exhaustion

Some of the most common causes of heat exhaustion are spending too long out in the sun or exercising intensely in hot weather. ²

You can help prevent heat exhaustion by staying cool and hydrated, and doing the following:

Drinking lots of cold drinks
Avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm
Avoiding excess alcohol: this dehydrates you, and if you’re drinking a lot you may not associate your symptoms with heat exhaustion until it’s too late

Avoiding extreme exercise
Keeping your home as cool as possible by closing curtains, closing windows if it’s hotter outside than inside, and turning off electrical equipment that gets warm

People who find it harder to regulate their body temperature (for example, very old or young people or those with chronic illnesses) can get heat exhaustion just by being in hot weather, even if it’s not for very long or they’re not active.

You’ll need to take extra care to keep yourself or another at-risk person hydrated and out of the heat wherever possible.

Preventing heatstroke

You can help to prevent heatstroke in all the same ways as heat exhaustion.

If you think someone already has heat exhaustion, it’s vital to act to help stop it from turning into heatstroke.

You're also more at risk from heatstroke if you’ve had it before. ²

Heat exhaustion: what to do

If you think someone has heat exhaustion, you’ll need to act quickly to help them stay safe: ¹

Move them to a cool place.
Remove all unnecessary clothing, like jumpers or shoes and socks.
Give them cool water or a sports drink.
Cool their skin using cold water, by fanning them, or by placing ice packs wrapped in cloth on their body.
The neck and armpits are good places to help the body cool down quickly.

Stay with the person until they begin to feel better. If they don’t feel better after 30 minutes, they may have heatstroke and you should get urgent medical help. According to the Red Cross, you should still seek medical advice for a baby or child with heat exhaustion, even if they seem to recover fully. ³

Heatstroke: what to do

Call 999 immediately if you suspect someone has heatstroke.

Stay with them until help arrives and try to cool them down using the steps above. Do not try to make them drink anything if they are unconscious. ⁴

If they are unconscious or losing consciousness, put them in the recovery position until help arrives.

The final say

Heat exhaustion can happen to anyone, particularly if you’re vulnerable to hot weather. You must take steps to prevent it where you can, mainly by staying cool, drinking lots of fluids, and not doing extreme exercise when it’s hot.

Get help immediately if you think you or someone else has symptoms of heatstroke, which can be life-threatening. Need advice on staying cool and protected this summer? Read our handpicked sun safety guides below:

Sources

1.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/

2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/heat-stroke-hyperthermia-a-to-z

3. https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/learn-first-aid-for-babies-and-children/heat-exhaustion

4. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000022.htm

Disclaimer

The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.