What are possible severe effects of hyperthermia?

Hyperthermia occurs when the body overheats, typically due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or excessive physical exertion. The body's temperature regulation mechanisms can fail, leading to a range of severe effects resulting from cellular and metabolic disruption.

Nerve damage is a significant risk associated with hyperthermia because elevated temperatures can cause denaturation of proteins, impairing the function of neurons and potentially leading to long-term neurological impairments. Convulsions are another possible outcome as the brain becomes overstimulated or malfunctions due to the stress of extreme temperatures, which can disrupt the normal electrical activities in the brain. Lastly, in severe cases, hyperthermia can lead to death if the body's core temperature rises to critical levels, resulting in multi-organ dysfunction as vital systems fail.

Other options present effects that, while concerning, do not encompass the severe and potentially life-threatening impacts associated with hyperthermia. For example, fatigue and migraines may result from overheating but are not classified as severe outcomes compared to nerve damage or death. Similarly, weight gain is unrelated to hyperthermia, and while erhythmia and hypertension can sometimes occur in instances of extreme heat, they do not capture the full spectrum of life-threatening dangers posed by hyperthermia.