Diagnosis

If you need medical attention due to heat exhaustion, it may be apparent to medical personnel that you have heat exhaustion, or they may take your rectal temperature to confirm the diagnosis and rule out heatstroke. If your doctors suspect your heat exhaustion may have progressed to heatstroke, you may need additional tests, including:

• A blood test to check for low blood sodium or potassium and the content of gases in your blood
• A urine test to check the concentration and composition of your urine and to check your kidney function, which can be affected by heatstroke
• Muscle function tests to check for rhabdomyolysis — serious damage to your muscle tissue
• X-rays and other imaging to check for damage to your internal organs