Heat disorders are a group of illnesses caused
by prolonged exposure to hot temperatures,
restricted fluid intake, or failure of the body's
ability to regulate its temperature.
The general term used for heat disorders
is hyperthermia. The three most common forms of
hyperthermia are heat cramps, heat exhaustion,
and heat stroke.
Hyperthermia can cause harm to people of all
ages. But its effects are more serious
with increasing age.
The human body functions normally only within a very narrow range of temperatures close to 98.6°F (37°C). If the body gets much warmer or much colder than 98.6°F, health problems develop. Raising or lowering the body temperature by only a few degrees can cause death in a short period of time.
One method the body uses to cool down is perspiring (sweating). Perspiration is the loss of water from the skin. Body heat provides the energy needed to evaporate water from the skin. The more a person perspires, the cooler the body becomes.
However, excessive perspiration can cause problems. The body may lose too much water. It may become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause a variety of medical problems.
|