The skin is hot and dry.

The brain is affected resulting in restlessness, disorientation, delirium or even coma. Some milder forms like headache, dizziness, and confusion are also seen.

The rate of breathing is high and is usually shallow, intermittent or stertorous.

Temperature within the mouth may increase beyond 108⁰F.

Bleeding episodes from the nose may be present.

The pulse may remain strong and rapid.

The blood pressure is usually normal. A fall in blood pressure might indicate a more serious life-threatening situation called shock. This is a condition where there is reduced circulation of blood within the body, ultimately resulting in death.

Cause of death can be due to, kidney failure, heart attack which is due to death of the heart muscle, heart failure due to the increase in work load on the heart or due to lung complications.

Heat syndromes are a group of six conditions, which occur on exposure to high environmental temperatures. They are:

Heat Stroke.

Heat exhaustion type1.

Heat exhaustion type2.

Water depletion heat exhaustion.

Heat syncope.

Heat cramps.

Heat exhaustion type 1 : This is also called salt deficiency heat exhaustion. The condition occurs in prolonged sweating causing loss of salt from the body without sufficient replacement. The features are tiredness, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, cramps and dehydration. If untreated can lead to shock and circulatory failure.

Treatment is by bringing the salt-water ratio and blood volume back to normal.

Heat exhaustion type 2 : This occurs after months of chronic exposure to hot and humid environment. The features are early tiredness, headaches, giddiness, boils on the dry areas of the skin seen around the arms and the trunk, increased heart rate, deep and fast breathing, and increase of body temperature to about 102⁰F.

Treatment is mainly to rest in a cool room. Ability to sweat improves the condition.

Heat syncope : This is also known as exercise induced heat exhaustion or heat collapse. This condition occurs in individuals unacclimatised to exposure to heat. It manifests as syncope, giddiness and tiredness. Recovery results in cool surroundings and after restoration of the salt-water balance in the body.

Water depletion heat exhaustion : This condition results in prolonged sweating followed by inadequate replacement of water. There is pronounced thirst, tiredness, reduced amount of urine production, fever, delirium and coma. A cool surrounding with adequate replacement of water helps the patient to recover.

Heat cramps : The development of painful muscular cramps in individuals with heavy sweating and salt depletion. Salt replacement helps to recover the patient from this condition.