UK Heatwave: Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke Symptoms You Need to Know

Hot weather can overwhelm the body’s natural cooling system, particularly during prolonged heat, strenuous activity or dehydration. Although anyone can become unwell, older people, young children, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions face a higher risk.

Heat exhaustion is the body’s warning that it is struggling to cool itself, while heatstroke means temperature control is failing. Recognising where one ends and the other begins is crucial because heatstroke requires immediate emergency treatment.