The most severe form of the heat-related illnesses is heat stroke, when body temperature usually exceeds 41°C, neurological dysfunctions, and in some cases anhydrosis are present. Classic heat stroke affects subjects with compromised warmth-defense capabilities (e.g., infants, elderly), while exertional heat stroke occurs in healthy, young adults during high-performance activities in hot environment. In heat stroke, the signs and symptoms of systemic inflammation, distributive/hypovolemic circulatory shock, multiple organ dysfunction, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, electrolyte, pH, and osmotic imbalance are manifested simultaneously Air Pollution and Lung Disease Physicians for Social Responsibility, Coals Assault on Human Health, 2009 When we breathe in dirty air, we bring air pollutants deep into our lungs, so it’s no surprise that air pollution causes serious damage to the respiratory tract. Air pollution exposure can trigger new cases of asthma, exacerbate (worsen) a previously-existing respiratory illness, and provoke development or progression of chronic illnesses including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and emphysema. Air pollutants also negatively and significantly harm lung development, creating an additional risk factor for developing lung diseases later in life. Asthma Over 20 million people in the U.S., including six million children now gasp for breath due to asthma. Asthma, a chronic disease of the lungs characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, causes a sensation of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. If untreated, asthma episodes can be near- fatal or even fatal. Asthma is not currently curable, and damage that is done to lung tissue during asthma attacks may lead to permanent damage. Nearly 1.8 million emergency room visits were attributed to asthma in 2005. There are many triggers to asthma attacks, including dust, smoke, pollen, and volatile organic compounds. Common outdoor pollutant triggers include ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. The Asthma-Ozone Connection Ozone, one of the most widespread air pollutants in the US, is formed when volatile organic compounds react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight. Ozone irritates the lungs at concentrations which are fairly common in urban settings, particularly in summer months. Increases in ozone are linked to asthma and other lung diseases. For those with severe asthma, symptoms increase even when ambient