Heat Exhaustion vs Heatstroke - Legacy ER

With 90-degree weather increasingly common in Texas, people must know the differences between two specific conditions related to overexposure to heat: heatstroke and heat exhaustion. While exhaustion requires rest at cooler temperatures and water, heatstroke is a severe condition that requires immediate emergency treatment.

While the two might sound the same, there are differences between the two, especially since heatstroke can be fatal and life-threatening. Knowing the signs and symptoms between the two is beneficial and can help prevent you from suffering during the summer.

What Is Heat Exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is a problematic condition and can be dangerous if it’s not treated immediately. Unfortunately, there are  two types of heat exhaustion: water depletion and salt depletion. This means that overexposure to heat can lead to dehydration of water and or lack of salt within the body, causing unwanted symptoms.

Muscle cramps and spasms often precede the condition. Additional symptoms unique to heat exhaustion include cold, clammy skin, a fast but weak pulse, and excessive sweating.

Treatment includes gentle rehydration and rest in a cooler area. While non-immediate treatment is not life-threatening, heat exhaustion can develop into a much more dangerous condition called heatstroke if delayed long enough.

What Is Heatstroke?

A heatstroke (also known as sunstroke) is a severe sickness that cannot be cured with rest and water.

Heatstroke develops from heat exhaustion, and if left untreated, it can cause damage to vital organs and systems including:

• Brain and nervous system 
• Circulatory system 
• Lungs 
• Liver 
• Kidney 
• Digestive Tract 
• Muscles 

Heatstroke symptoms  also differ from heat exhaustion. Some are the same, such as overall weakness, lack of temperature regulation, and dizziness, but unique symptoms include a body temperature of 104 degrees or higher, a fast and strong pulse, and hot, dry skin.

Unlike heat exhaustion, a heatstroke is life-threatening, and you should seek emergency medical treatment immediately if you or someone you know is showing signs and symptoms. In addition, the more prolonged treatment is delayed, the person exhibiting signs  will suffer permanent damage.  

If you feel your condition is a true emergency, call 911. If you’re experiencing extreme pain or any of the symptoms of a heat stroke, seek medical attention by visiting Legacy ER & Urgent Care at any time, 24 hours a day, year-round.  

Legacy ER & Urgent Care is here to meet your medical care needs by providing affordable pricing and quality care. As part of Intuitive Health’s innovative hybrid model ER and urgent care system, patients are only billed for the level of care they receive from professional and highly trained medical staff. With a total of six centers located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, emergent and non-emergent care is accessible and transparent with a focus on superb customer service.  

Legacy ER & Urgent Care has six convenient locations in the DFW area:

• Allen – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 1310 W. Exchange Pkwy Allen, TX 75013, and may be reached at 972-526-5819.
• Coppell – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 330 S Denton Tap Rd Coppell, TX 75019 and may be reached at 469-702-9917.
• Frisco East: Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 16151 Eldorado Pkwy Frisco, TX 75035 and may be reached at 972-526-7009.
• Frisco West: Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 9205 Legacy Dr. Frisco, TX 75033, and may be reached at 972-526-7020.
• McKinney – Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 2810 Hardin Blvd McKinney, TX 75072, and may be reached at 972-573-6688.
• North Richland Hills: Legacy ER & Urgent Care is located at 8950 N. Tarrant Pkwy North Richland Hills, TX 76182, and may be reached at 817-663-1247