Heat stroke is characterized by the failure of the body's temperature-regulating capacity.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

Heat stroke happens when the body's temperature-regulating system stops working effectively. Normally the hypothalamus manages core temperature by balancing heat produced with heat lost through sweating and increased blood flow to the skin. In heat stroke this regulatory mechanism is overwhelmed or damaged, so core temperature rises rapidly, often above 40°C (104°F). This failure leads to central nervous system changes such as confusion, agitation, seizures, or coma, and can cause organ damage if not treated promptly. Because the defining feature is a breakdown of the body's ability to regulate temperature, the statement is true. If thermoregulation were functioning properly, heat illness would be heat exhaustion rather than heat stroke.