Heatstroke, also known as sunstroke, is what happens to your body when you have been exposed to very high temperatures, from the sun.
It often happens when you have not drunk enough water, and therefore have become dehydrated.
Heatstroke can cause damage to your organs such as your brain, heart and kidney, as well as your muscles. Heatstroke can have very serious consequences, including even leading to death.
Heatstroke is caused when you have been in very hot weather, often for a long time.
It will often occur if you have been exercising or working very hard outside, or if you have not been drinking enough water while out in the heat.
It can also occur if you are inside but in a building that does not have enough air moving around, windows or air conditioning.
If you drink alcohol, this can affect how your body is able to control its temperature, possibly leading to heatstroke.
Although anyone can get heatstroke, children and older people are particularly at risk.
Certain health conditions such as having diabetes, can also make you more at risk of getting heatstroke.
The main symptom is a very high body temperature – usually 40 degrees Celsius or higher.
The person with heatstroke might also show the following signs of being ill:
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