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  5. Heat Stroke vs. Stroke Infographic

Heat Stroke vs. Stroke Infographic

Heat Stroke vs Stroke infographic

Download the printable resource (PDF)

HEATSTROKE vs STROKE

What and Why:

Heat stroke is when your body overheats and core body temperature rises to more than 104° F. Stroke is when a blood vessel to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot. Brain cells die from the lack of blood and oxygen.

Risk Factors:

Heat Stroke:

  • age,
  • weight,
  • medical conditions,
  • certain medications,
  • exertion in hot weather,
  • lack of air conditioning,
  • spending time outside in excessive heat,
  • sudden exposure to hot weather

Stroke: Up to 80% of strokes are preventable

Factors you may be able to control:

  • heart disease,
  • high blood pressure,
  • obesity,
  • cigarette smoking,
  • diabetes,
  • atrial fibrillation,
  • poor diet,
  • high cholesterol

Factors you cannot control:

  • age,
  • race,
  • gender,
  • family history,
  • medical history

Signs: Heat Stroke:

Body temperature of 104° F or higher is the main sign.

Other signs include:

  • fast pulse or racing heart rate
  • rapid, shallow breathing
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • confusion
  • loss of consciousness
  • headache
  • flushed or red skin
  • hot and dry skin (when not exercising)

Stroke: FAST: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call to call 9-1-1

Other signs of stroke include sudden trouble seeing, dizziness, confusion, severe headache, or weakness on one side of the body.

What to do:

Heat stroke: While waiting for emergency care, move the person into shade or indoors, remove excess clothing and try to cool them with water, fans, ice packs or cold, wet towels.

Stroke: Get to the hospital as quickly as possible by ambulance to improve chance of surviving and having a full recovery.

Both: Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services number ASAP


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Professionals

Professionals
  • Prevention
    • Five Key Facts About Stroke
    • Prevention Materials
    • Secondary Stroke Prevention Checklist
  • Order American Stroke Association Educational Brochures
  • Prehospital/EMS
    • Prehospital Resources
    • Stroke Simulation Event Registration
    • Stroke Simulation Locations
  • R.Á.P.I.D.O. Resources
  • Acute Treatment
  • Acute Ischemic Stroke Toolkit
  • Acute Ischemic Stroke Resources
  • Post-Stroke Care
    • Cryptogenic Stroke Initiative
    • Patient Focused Rehabilitation Resources
    • Professional Rehab Resources
    • Professional Resources on Secondary Stroke Prevention
    • The Known and Unknown of Stroke Infographic
  • Spasticity Resources
  • Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Audiocast Series
    • The Rehab Program
    • Transitions in Care and Community Interventions
    • Prevention and Medical Management of Comorbidities
    • Identifying and Treating Post Stroke Depression
    • Rehab and Recovery Assessment
    • Sensorimotor Impairments
Stroke Family Warmline:
1-888-4-STROKE or 1-888-478-7653
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CST
Stroke.org/speakwithus

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

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