Heat stroke or heat exhaustion? Experts explain the difference

Now is not the time to have a medical emergency like a heat stroke, especially with the rising number of COVID-19 cases filling up hospitals and medical facilities left and right.

But how can you tell if you're having a heat stroke, or simply experiencing heat exhaustion?

According to Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center (NEC), signs of heat exhaustion include:

• headache
• nausea
• dizziness
• excessive sweating
• fast breathing
• fast pulse
• being thirsty
• high body temperature

When the body temperature reaches 40º Celsius or when there is a noticeable lack of sweating, you should definitely take immediate action. Those are signs of a heat stroke.

"Ang heat exhaustion ay malamang sa hindi, ay tumataas din ang temperatura, pero hindi naman umaabot sa 40º Celsius," Dr. Tayag explained on "Unang Hirit."

"Ang heat exhaustion — because of excessive sweating, you experience headache, dizziness, and nausea, have a fast pulse, and fast and shallow breathing. Others even faint, because your body needs to replenish the electrolytes it loses from sweating," he said in Filipino.

"Sa heat stroke wala ka nang pawis" he added.

In any case, the public is advised to remain vigilant because heat stroke is still a medical emergency that can be fatal without adequate treatment.

"Maaring ikamatay na ang heatstroke, kaya huwag niyong babalewalain po 'yan, at kailangan po kaagad 'yan ng dagliang lunas," Dr. Tayag said.

Dagupan City in Pangasinan registered a sweltering heat index of 52 degrees celsius last week.

The heat in the Philippines has also been a hot topic online lately, with one netizen sharing her experience of frying an egg under the sun. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News