FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF HEAT STROKE

1. lack of acclimatization

2. obesity

3. poor physical fitness

4. fatigue or lack of sleep

5. dehydration

6. salt or potassium deficiency

7. advanced age (over 45)

8. young children (less than 1 year)

9. febrile illness

10. acute and convalescent infections

11. reactions to immunizations and inoculations

12. recent air travel

13. recent intake of food

14. recent surgery of certain kinds

15. sustained output of muscular metabolic heat

16. past history of heat illness

17. increased individual susceptibility due to biologic variations (some drug-induced heat stroke from anesthetics is due to a genetic variant)

18. drugs

19. chronic diseases of brain or spinal cord, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, malnutrition

20. skin injury such as heat rash, sunburn, lack of sweat glands, scleroderma, extensive burns