Which of the following describes signs of heat exhaustion?

• A. Dizziness, light-headedness, headache, irritability, normal or slightly decreased LOC, normal BP, tachycardia.
• B. Seizures and loss of consciousness.
• C. Severe hypertension and arrhythmia.
• D. No symptoms.

Answer: (A)

Heat exhaustion happens when the body loses fluids and salt through sweating, leading to dehydration and a mild drop in blood volume. The best match for its signs includes dizziness or light-headedness, headache, irritability or fatigue, with the level of consciousness being normal or only mildly affected, and a heart rate that's fast but blood pressure that remains normal or only slightly reduced. This combination reflects how dehydration shifts circulation and brain perfusion without producing severe CNS symptoms or dangerously high blood pressure.

Seizures and loss of consciousness point to more severe heat illness, such as heat stroke, where high body temperature and significant mental status changes are common. Severe hypertension and arrhythmia don’t fit the typical early picture of heat exhaustion, and having no symptoms is not consistent with the dehydration and cardiovascular response seen in heat exhaustion.