What is the term for a heat-related illness caused by the loss of too much water and salt?

The term for a heat-related illness caused by the loss of too much water and salt is heat exhaustion. This condition occurs when the body loses excessive amounts of fluids and electrolytes, particularly through sweating during prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Symptoms often include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes fainting.

Heat stroke, on the other hand, is a more severe condition that occurs when the body's temperature regulation fails and overheating takes place, which can be life-threatening. Heat cramps refer to painful muscle contractions that typically occur during physical exertion in hot environments, which may also be linked to loss of electrolytes but are not considered a full-blown illness like heat exhaustion. Dehydration itself describes the state of having lost too much water and essential electrolytes, but it is not exclusively tied to high temperatures. Heat exhaustion specifically encompasses the combination of fluid loss and heat exposure, making it the correct term in this context.