Fortunately, learning more about heat stroke may help you or someone you know avoid becoming a victim. People who are at risk for heat-related illness should take frequent breaks from heat activity, seek a cool place and drink at least eight glasses of water a day .
Heat stroke happens because the body's cooling system has failed.
Normally sweating cools the body, but if sweat is not allowed to evaporate or if the person has not consumed enough liquids to make up for the loss, the body's heat production may overwhelm its cooling system. Heat-related illness usually comes in stages. Painful muscle cramps are a sign of the first stage and may be accompanied by faintness or dizziness, weakness or profuse sweating. A person with these symptoms should lie down in a cool place and sip a cool drink. Symptoms of the next stage of heat stroke may include cool, moist, pale skin, headache, dizziness, elevated or lowered blood pressure and nausea.