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Research

Historical perspectives of heat-related illness part 2: the present and future

02 October 2024
Research
02 October 2024
Volume 16 · Issue 10

Abstract

Part one of this series on heat-related illness described how the disease has been known and written about for thousands of years. Since then, there have been some improvements in our understanding of its risks, mechanisms and treatments. However, heat-related illness remains a significant problem, and can be fatal or cause ongoing disability even after the acute episode has passed. This narrative review, the second article in a two-part series describes current understanding of heat-related illness and offers an insight into what we may learn in the future about its cause and potential new treatments and strategies.

Part one of this series on heat-related illness examined how the disease has been known and written about for thousands of years (Hannides and Walter, 2024).

Since then, there has been some but not much improvement in the understanding of it. Although heat-related illness has been known about for millennia, it still poses a significant threat to humans.

Heat-related illnesses are a spectrum of diseases where heat production exceeds the ability of the body to lose heat, so the core temperature rises. The illness can vary in severity, progressing from heat cramps and heat rash to the more severe heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heatstroke is a life-threatening disorder usually defined by a core body temperature >40°C with dysfunction of the central nervous system, with symptoms such as delirium, seizures and coma. Heatstroke is described as classic when it results from exposure to environmental heat and exertional when it occurs during strenuous exercise.

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Exertional heat illness
Heat-related illness
Hyperthermia
Heatstroke
Climate
Historical article