Are you more susceptible after heat stroke?

Heat tolerance can remain reduced until hydration, organ function, fitness and temperature control have recovered. Because heat stroke is a medical emergency, return to strenuous work, exercise or major heat exposure should follow advice from the clinician overseeing recovery.

Heat stroke overwhelms the body's ability to control temperature and can affect the brain, kidneys, liver and muscles. Ongoing weakness, dehydration, impaired sweating, medicines or unresolved organ injury can make a later hot environment harder to tolerate.

The original circumstances also matter. Heavy protective clothing, intense exertion, poor access to shade or fluids, illness and certain medicines may still be present after discharge. Addressing those factors is part of preventing recurrence.

Attend follow-up appointments and wait for clinical clearance before intense exertion. When cleared, rebuild exposure gradually in cooler conditions, schedule frequent shaded or air-conditioned breaks, wear suitable clothing and begin activity well hydrated.

Use a buddy system in hot settings and stop at early symptoms such as headache, unusual fatigue, dizziness, nausea, cramps or heavy sweating. Review prescription and non-prescription medicines with a clinician; do not change them independently merely because they may affect heat responses.

Confusion, altered behaviour, slurred speech, collapse, seizure or loss of consciousness during heat exposure requires emergency services immediately. Move the person to a cooler place, remove excess clothing and start rapid external cooling while help is on the way.

Do not wait for the skin to become dry; heat stroke can occur with sweating. Do not give drinks to someone whose alertness is impaired. Vomiting, reduced urination, severe muscle pain or worsening weakness after discharge also needs prompt medical assessment.

Ask whether follow-up blood or urine tests are needed, what symptoms should stop activity, and how quickly to rebuild heat exposure. Discuss work duties, exercise intensity, protective clothing, previous kidney or heart problems, and every medicine or supplement you use.