What do heatwaves do to the body and who is most at risk?
Getty imagesHot weather during the summer can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious damage.
Experts recommend checking those that can be more vulnerable, such as the elderly and babies.
What is the extreme warmth to our body?
As the body becomes warmer, the blood vessels open. This leads to a drop in blood pressure and makes the heart work harder to push the blood around the body.
This process can cause light symptoms such as rash in the heat of itching or swollen feet.
At the same time, sweating leads to the loss of liquids and salt and, above all, the balance between them in the body changes.
This, combined with lowered blood pressure, can cause heat exhaustion. Symptoms include:
- dizziness
- nausea
- fainting
- confusion
- muscle cramps
- headache
- sweating
- fatigue
If the blood pressure drops too far, the risk of heart attacks increases.
Why do the bodies react this way of heating?
Our body strives to maintain a central temperature of around 37 ° C, whether we are in a snowstorm or a heat wave.
This is the temperature at which our bodies have evolved to operate.
But as the weather becomes warmer, it is more difficult for the body to maintain its central temperature.
It opens more blood vessels near the skin to lose heat in our environment and begins to sweat.
As sweat evaporates, it considerably increases the lost heat of the skin.
How can I stay safe in the heat?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends looking for those who may find it difficult to remain cool, like the elderly, people with underlying conditions and those who live alone.
Other tips include:
- Stay in the fridge inside by closing the curtains on parts facing the sun
- Drink a lot of liquids and avoid too much alcohol
- Stay away from the sun between 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest
- Stay in the shade, using sunscreen with a high SPF and UVA rating, and wearing a wide hat
- Avoid physical exercise in the hottest part of the day
- transport water with you if you travel
Anyone who has tried to cool off in rivers and water in water should consult local warning panels and consider hidden dangers.
Person – In particular babies, young children and animals – should never be left in a locked vehicle.
Getty imagesWhat should I do if I think someone has a heat exhaustion or a heat stroke?
If you see someone you think heat exhaustionThe NHS says you should:
- Move them in a cool place
- Make them go to bed and lift your feet slightly
- Drink a lot of water – sports or rehydration drinks are also ok
- Cool their skin-vaporize them or sponge them with cold water and match them. The cold packaging around the armpits or the neck are good too
If they can be cooled in half an hour, heat exhaustion is normally not serious.
However, if they are not recovered within 30 minutes, then they may heat stroke.
This is a medical emergency and you should call 999 immediately.
People with heat strokes can stop sweating even if they are too hot. Their temperature could exceed 40 ° C and they could have crises or lose consciousness.
Who is most at risk in hot weather?
Older people who have long -term conditions – such as heart disease – are sometimes less able to cope with the heat of stress puts on the body.
Diabetes can cause water to lose the body faster and certain complications of the disease can change blood vessels and the ability to sweat.
Children and those who are less mobile can also be more vulnerable. Brain diseases, like dementia, can also leave people ignorant of heat or unable to do anything about it.
People homeless will also be more exposed to the sun. Those who live in high -ground apartments will also face higher temperatures.
Do some drugs increase the risk of hot time?
Yes – But the NHS says that people should continue to take their medication as usual, and focus on the cool and hydrated stay.
Diuretics – sometimes called “water pills” – increase the amount of water expelled by the body. They are largely taken, including for heart failure. At high temperatures, they increase the dangers of dehydration and imbalances in the key minerals of the body.
Antihypertensives – which lower blood pressure – can be combined with blood vessels that dilate to cope with heat and cause dangerous drops of blood pressure.
Certain drugs for epilepsy and parkinson can block perspiration and make it more difficult for the body to cool.
Other drugs such as lithium or statins can become more concentrated and problematic in the blood if there is too much loss of liquid.
Does the heat kill?
In 2022 – which saw the highest temperature in England at 40.3 ° C – there were approximately 2,985 so -called “excess death” as a result of heat.
Most excess heat -related deaths are due to heart attacks and brain vascular accidents caused by tension to try to maintain stable body temperatures.
The higher mortality rate is starting to launch once the thermometer spends 25c-26c.
However, the evidence suggests that deaths tend to be caused by higher temperatures in spring or early summer rather than during the “summer summit”.
This could be due to the fact that we are starting to change our daily behavior as summer progresses and that we get more used to treating heat.
The evidence of previous heat waves are the increase in deaths occur very quickly – within the first 24 hours of a heat wave.
