ABSTRACT
The experience of heat cramps are commonly reported by soldiers during missions at the desert. There are records of severe cases of heat stroke even during peaceful missions and recruiting.
In spite of age, BMI and physical shape can influence heat tolerance, in practice the sickness cannot be predicted by individual profile. Individual initial levels of hydration, salt balance, muscular fatigue and sleep deprivation induce, even in the best prepared individuals, homeostatic imbalances. Besides individual characteristics and conditions, the environmental conditions, such unavailability of a suitable diet and drinking water in war scenarios, increases the probability of heat related illnesses. Even with fresh water availability, sweating rate is so intense in extreme dry heat that overloads body’s capability of rehydration.
