What are the causes of hyperthermia and its harmful effects on health?

Hyperthermia is an abnormal increase in body temperature when the body is unable to dissipate the heat it produces or receives from the environment. Unlike fever, which is the body’s regulated response to infections, in hyperthermia the temperature control system becomes overloaded. This condition can occur in situations of intense heat, excessive physical exertion, or consumption of certain medications and substances.

This exaggerated increase in body temperature can lead to changes in several organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. In milder cases, it causes discomfort and fatigue; in more severe cases, it can cause permanent damage and even risk of death. Therefore, understanding the causes of hyperthermia and its harmful effects on health are essential for prevention and prompt care.

What is hyperthermia and how is it different from fever?

Hyperthermia occurs when the body’s internal temperature exceeds the limit the body can control, usually above 40°C, without adequate adjustment by the brain’s regulatory center. In case of fever, on the contrary, the body “decides” to increase its temperature as part of the immune response, while maintaining a certain internal control. In hyperthermia, the main problem is the inability to dissipate heat.

The human body uses mechanisms such as sweating, faster breathing, and dilation of skin vessels to release heat. In very hot or humid environments, or during intense physical exertion, these mechanisms may not be sufficient. When this happens, the individual enters heat stress which can progress to severe forms of hyperthermia, such as heat stroke.

What are the main causes of hyperthermia?

At causes of hyperthermia They are varied, but usually involve excessive heat, strenuous physical exertion, or interference from medications and diseases. Certain factors appear frequently in emergency care and are well known to healthcare professionals.

• Prolonged exposure to heat: stay in hot, poorly ventilated environments, such as closed cars, rooms without air circulation, or places with high humidity.
• Intense physical activity: intensive sports practice, especially in periods of strong sunlight, without adequate hydration.
• Use of inappropriate clothing: very closed or waterproof pieces, which prevent perspiration from evaporating.
• Diseases that make sweating difficult: Certain dermatological or metabolic conditions can reduce the ability to sweat.
• Medicines and drugs: Some antidepressants, antipsychotics, diuretics, stimulants and illicit substances can impair thermal control.
• Extreme age: Young children and the elderly are at greater risk because they have more difficulty regulating their temperature.

To these factors are added specific forms, such as malignant hyperthermiaassociated with anesthetics during surgical procedures, and with stress hyperthermia, common in athletes, military personnel and workers exposed to the sun. In any case, the faster the temperature rises, the greater the risk of damage to health.

What are the health risks of hyperthermia?

The damage caused by hyperthermia varies depending on the intensity and duration of exposure to excessive heat. Initially, non-specific symptoms may appear, which often go unnoticed. If the disease progresses, the damage becomes progressively more serious.

1. Initial phase (slight thermal stress): feeling of intense heat, thirst, weakness, dizziness, headache and excessive sweating.
2. Heat cramps: painful contractions in the legs, arms or stomach, generally linked to the loss of mineral salts through sweat.
3. Heat exhaustion: drop in pressure, nausea, vomiting, cold and clammy skin, severe fatigue and reduced reasoning ability.
4. Heat stroke (severe form of hyperthermia): very high temperature, hot, dry skin, mental confusion, convulsions, loss of consciousness and risk of organ failure.

When body temperature remains high for a prolonged period of time, damage can occur to cells in the brain, heart and kidneys. This increases the risk of neurological sequelae, cardiac arrhythmias and renal failure. In extreme situations, hyperthermia can lead to cardiac arrest.

How to reduce the risk of hyperthermia on a daily basis?

Prevent the hyperthermia and the damage it causes to health requires simple but constant measures. Routine on hot days or in work environments exposed to the sun requires special attention.

• Maintain adequate hydration throughout the day, favoring water and, if necessary, solutions containing mineral salts.
• Avoid direct exposure to the sun during the hottest periods, preferring shaded and ventilated places.
• Wear light, lightweight clothing that allows perspiration.
• Plan rest breaks after intense physical work or prolonged sports practices.
• Watch for warning signs, such as dizziness, nausea, excessive fatigue, and mental confusion.
• Protect the most vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

If heat stroke or severe hyperthermia is suspected, it is advisable to consult a doctor immediately. Until help arrives, it is recommended to take the person to a ventilated area, remove excess clothing and try to cool the body with cold compresses or a hot bath, without resorting to extreme methods. Quick identification of causes of hyperthermia and the adoption of basic care helps to reduce damage and preserve health.