eat is the deadliest of all atmospheric phenomena. From 1979 to 1999, the deaths of 8015 Americans were directly associated with excessive heat exposure (Centers for Disease Control 2002). This toll underestimates heat’s true impact, however, as there is no consensus on what constitutes a “heat-related death,” and death certificates often do not identify when heat has acted as a catalyst in exa...

Exposure to high environmental temperature leading to increased core body temperature above 40°C and central nervous system abnormalities such as convulsions, delirium, or coma is defined as heat stroke. Studies in humans and animals indicate that the heat shock responses of the host contribute to multiple organ injury and death during heat stroke. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)-a stress-responsive en...