Why heatstroke is dangerous and how to protect yourself from it

(Richard Sima/ Washington Post) — Our brain works hard to coordinate and regulate our body’s temperature. But rising temperatures and humidity make us increasingly susceptible to heatstroke, especially during exercise.

“When you overheat your body, you can basically cook your cells, essentially, and that will cause cell death and cell dysfunction,” said Rebecca Stearns, the chief operating officer of the Korey Stringer Institute, a nonprofit housedat the University of Connecticut dedicated to studying and preventing heatstroke in athletes.

It’s important to know the risks of heatstroke and take it seriously. Not only does heatstroke have a relatively high mortality rate, but those who recover still may face future health problems, said Orlando Laitano, assistant professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida. “We now believe that heatstroke is almost like concussion.” (…)