ABSTRACT
Each team physician should be familiar with the prevention and management of heat-associated illnesses, as many sports events occur in hot, humid conditions. Heat is produced by endogenous sources, including metabolism associated with muscle activity, and exogenous sources, which include heat transfer to the body when the environmental temperature is higher than body temperature. Thermally, the body can be divided into two zones: the core and the shell. The core consists of the deeper tissues, including all the vital organs such as the heart and brain; the shell comprises the remainder, including the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscles. The core temperature is stable over a remarkable range of environmental thermal stressors. On the other hand, the temperature of the shell differs significantly with the environment, the degree of protection, and the activity of the individual.
