Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion
A warning that the body is getting too hot. The person may be thirsty, giddy, weak, uncoordinated, nauseous, and sweating profusely. The body temperature is usually normal and the pulse is normal or raised. The skin is cold and clammy. Although heat exhaustion often is caused by the body’s loss of water and salt, salt supplements should only be taken with advice from a doctor. Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood preset and people working or exercising in a hot environment. The warning signs of heat exhaustion include: {{}}heavy sweating paleness muscle cramps tiredness weakness dizziness headache nausea or vomiting fainting The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if: {{}}symptoms are severe, or the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure. Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour. Cooling measures that may be effective include: {{}}cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician rest cool shower, bath, or sponge bath an air-conditioned environment lightweight clothing

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heat exhaustion n a condition marked by weakness, nausea, dizziness, and profuse sweating that results from physical exertion in a hot environment called also heat prostration compare HEATSTROKE

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fatigue and collapse due to the low blood pressure and blood volume that result from loss of body fluids and salts after prolonged or unaccustomed exposure to heat. It is most common in new arrivals in a hot climate and is treated by giving drinks or intravenous injections of salted water.

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an effect of excessive exposure to heat, occurring among workers in hot places such as furnace rooms and foundries and sometimes in those under prolonged exposure to the sun's heat. It is marked by a core temperature that ranges from slightly subnormal to slightly elevated, with dizziness, headache, nausea, and sometimes delirium or collapse. Distinguished from heat stroke and sunstroke, in which the body temperature may be dangerously elevated. Called also heat prostration.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • heat exhaustion — n. a condition caused by excessive loss of salt and water, usually resulting from overexertion in a hot environment, and characterized by peripheral vascular collapse, dizziness, nausea, low body temperature, clammy skin, etc.: cf. HEATSTROKE …   English World dictionary

  • heat exhaustion — noun a condition marked by dizziness and nausea and weakness caused by depletion of body fluids and electrolytes • Syn: ↑heat prostration • Hypernyms: ↑heatstroke, ↑heat hyperpyrexia * * * noun : a condition characterized by faintness or fainting …   Useful english dictionary

  • heat exhaustion — a condition characterized by faintness, rapid pulse, nausea, profuse sweating, cool skin, and collapse, caused by prolonged exposure to heat accompanied by loss of adequate fluid and salt from the body. Also called heat prostration. [1935 40] * * …   Universalium

  • heat exhaustion — heat′ exhaus tion n. pat a condition brought on by intense or prolonged exposure to heat, characterized by profuse sweating with loss of fluids and salts, pale and damp skin, rapid pulse, nausea, and dizziness, progressing to collapse Compare… …   From formal English to slang

  • heat exhaustion — heat ex.haustion n [U] weakness and sickness caused by doing too much work, exercise etc in hot weather …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • heat exhaustion — heat ex,haustion noun uncount the feeling of being extremely tired and weak that you get when you do too much physical activity in hot conditions …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • heat exhaustion — noun Date: 1939 a condition marked by weakness, nausea, dizziness, and profuse sweating that results from physical exertion in a hot environment called also heat prostration compare heatstroke …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • heat exhaustion — fatigue and collapse due to the low blood pressure and blood volume that result from loss of body fluids and salts after prolonged or unaccustomed exposure to heat. It is most common in new arrivals in a hot climate and is treated by giving… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • heat exhaustion — /ˈhit əgzɔstʃən/ (say heet uhgzawschuhn) noun prostration caused by prolonged exposure to intense heat, sometimes accompanied by rapidly rising body temperature …  

  • heat exhaustion — noun (U) weakness and sickness caused by doing too much work, exercise etc when it is hot …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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