Abstract
Exertional heat illness typically occurs over hours in younger athletic patients or military recruits who exercise at elevated temperatures for a sufficient period of time to cause the rate of heat production to exceed the capacity of the body to dissipate heat. Since the physiological response to exercise includes cutaneous vasodilation and sweating, any limitation of such a response can cause rapid hyperthermia and thus heat stroke. One such condition is extensive burns healed by cicatrisation of the skin where the scar and grafted skin surface do not have functional sweat glands and are unable to lose heat in response to high temperatures. The authors report one unique case of a female marathon runner with exertional heat stroke who had recovered from deep second and third degree burns over approximately 50% of her body a few years ago.
Highlights
Exertional heat injuries are known to affect marathoners and army recruits under hot and humid environmental conditions [1,2]
Exertional heat illness typically occurs over hours in younger athletic patients or military recruits who exercise at elevated temperatures for a sufficient period of time to cause the rate of heat production to exceed the capacity of the body to dissipate heat
The role of adequate and appropriate rehydration before and during exercise has always been emphasised. This is because it is presumed that the increased heat production and the resultant increase in the core body temperature will drive the peripheral vasodilation and that the sweat secretion rate will increase proportionately to enhance heat loss
Summary
Exertional heat injuries are known to affect marathoners and army recruits under hot and humid environmental conditions [1,2]. Since peripheral vasodilation and sweating can dramatically increase heat loss, the lack of these physiological responses seriously predisposes those with these conditions to exertional heat injuries. The authors report a unique case of a female marathon participant who suffered exertional heat stroke possibly caused by her inability to sweat over a large surface area of her body and accumulating heat rapidly.
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