What is the Difference Between Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke exist along a continuum of severity caused by dehydration, electrolyte losses, and failure of the body’s thermoregulatory mechanisms.

Heat exhaustion is an excessive temperature, which left untreated will result in heat stroke and death. However, at this stage, the body’s natural thermoregulatory system is capable of maintaining a set body temperature. Once systems start to fail, such as the body loses fluid an anhydrases sets in, the body will no longer be able to respond to the excess body temperature and the person will rapidly progress to heat stroke.

Learn more about heat stroke here.