Question

Are the normal negative feedback mechanisms to regulate body temperature working normally in a patient with heat exhaustion? Are the normal negative feedback mechanisms to regulate body temperature working in a patient with heatstroke?

Answer 1

Maintenance of homeostasis usually involves negative feedback loops. These loops act to oppose the stimulus, or cue, that triggers them. For example, if your body temperature is too high, a negative feedback loop will act to bring it back down towards the set point, or target value.

Heat exhaustion often occurs when people work or play in a hot, humid environment and body fluids are lost through sweating, which causes the body to overheat and become dehydrated. The temperature may be elevated, but not above 104 F (40 C).Here person is unable to cool down by sweating.

Heat stroke is a heat-related illness,which develops because of untreated heat exhaustion. The body's cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point at which brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result (temperature may reach 105 F or greater (40.5 C or greater)

The heat-regulating mechanisms of the body eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, and body temperature climbs uncontrollably.