Final answer:
Heat exhaustion presents with nausea, fatigue, and excessive sweating due to dehydration and electrolyte loss, while heatstroke includes more severe symptoms like confusion, lack of sweating, and potential convulsions, representing a critical failure of the body's cooling mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symptoms of heat exhaustion differ notably from those of heatstroke. Heat exhaustion is characterized by symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and excessive sweating, which occur as the body tries to cool itself through sweating. Adequate fluid intake is essential to balance the loss of water and maintain hydration. Aspects like intense exercise in hot conditions can exacerbate electrolyte loss, leading to these symptoms. Consuming sports drinks can help quickly restore electrolytes in the body.
Heatstroke, on the other hand, is a severe form of heat illness where the body's temperature regulation fails. Symptoms include a lack of sweating despite the heat, confusion, a headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, convulsions, and even a high fever and muscle aches. Unlike heat exhaustion, which can often be treated with rest and hydration, heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate professional care as it can lead to severe complications or death.