Excess body heat

"Excess body heat" refers to a pathological elevation of core body temperature due to an imbalance between heat production and heat loss, commonly termed hyperthermia[1][4][6]. It can result from high environmental temperatures, impaired thermoregulatory mechanisms, excessive endogenous heat production (as in some metabolic disorders), or a combination. The physiological process of thermoregulation primarily involves the hypothalamus, which senses changes in core temperature via thermoreceptors and coordinates responses such as sweating, vasodilation, and behavioral modifications to dissipate heat[1][3][5][6]. Failure to adequately lose heat can cause core temperatures to rise above the normal range (36.5–37.5 °C), which may lead to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heatstroke[4][6]. "Excess body heat" is not a discrete molecular target, but a manifestation of disrupted homeostasis in the human body's thermoregulatory system. For this reason, it cannot be mapped to a receptor, enzyme, transporter, or other molecular entity for the purposes of structured pharmacological intervention[1][4][6].

Other names

HyperthermiaOverheatingHeat stressExcessive heat load