Heat Related Illness

Heat stress causes heat related illness by affecting your body's ability to cool down properly. The body normally cools itself by sweating, but sweating just isn't enough under some conditions. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs.

Heat related illness includes a range of health impacts from milder conditions like heat rash and heat cramps, to the most common type, heat exhaustion. The most serious heat related illness is heat stroke. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.