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Military Health System

Heat Injuries

Heat illnesses and injuries are no fun! What is heat-related illness? Heat-related illness, or hyperthermia, is a condition resulting from exposure to extreme heat where the body becomes unable to properly cool, resulting in a rapid rise in body temperature.

The evaporation of sweat is the normal way to remove body heat, but, when the humidity is high, sweat does not evaporate as quickly.Summer Safety - heat

This, in turn, prevents the body from releasing heat quickly. Prompt treatment of heat-related illnesses with aggressive fluid replacement and cooling of core body temperature is critical to reducing illness and preventing death. Be safe when taking part in outside activities and remember to hydrate!

As the weather warms up in the coming months, don’t let the sun’s dangerous rays affect your fun!  Remember to always use sunscreen and take regular breaks from direct sunlight.

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Ask the Doc: Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion -- What's the Difference?

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Heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to heat injuries like organ dysfunction or heat stroke.

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Heat illnesses and injuries are no fun! What is heat-related illness? Heat-related illness, or hyperthermia, is a condition resulting from exposure to extreme heat where the body becomes unable to properly cool, resulting in a rapid rise in body temperature. The evaporation of sweat is the normal way to remove body heat, but, when the humidity is high, sweat does not evaporate as quickly. This, in turn, prevents the body from releasing heat quickly. Prompt treatment of heat-related illnesses with aggressive fluid replacement and cooling of core body temperature is critical to reducing illness and preventing death. Be safe when taking part in outside activities and remember to hydrate!

Recommended Content:

Summer Safety | Heat Injuries | Summer Safety
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Last Updated: May 06, 2022
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