Why extreme heat is dangerous for humans and how to be protected from it?
Whether it's hot or cold, high temperatures are very harmful to your health, and in extreme cases can even lead to death.
According to the report of the American broadcaster CNN, the investigation showed that human deaths are higher in extreme heat than in natural disasters such as hurricanes or hurricanes.
Tariq Benmarhania, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, says that what’s more troubling about heat is that sudden attacks that sometimes kill people but hurricanes or other natural disasters don’t appear out of nowhere. .
According to a 2021 study, heat-related deaths have increased by 74% since 1980, and temperatures are likely to rise further during the recent climate crisis and heat waves will last longer. It is possible.
However, it is possible to prevent health problems in extreme heat, by taking care of three common conditions, which include dehydration, heat stroke and exhaustion.
Dehydration in the body
Water is very important for physical health, even a small amount of water deficiency in the body is not a sign of danger, because in this condition the deficiency can be compensated by consuming water.
However, the problem worsens when your body fails to alert you to dehydration, i.e. you don’t realize that your body needs water, in which case you feel thirsty. Even use does not help, elderly people may be more affected by this condition.
Experts say that it is mandatory to drink water before leaving the house in the hot season.
Drink a cup (8 ounces) of water at least every 15 to 20 minutes when you’re outdoors, especially when working or exercising in the sun, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dehydration increases the risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections along with other diseases.
Heat stroke
According to Dr. Scott Dresden, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University, heat stroke is the most worrisome problem in extreme heat.
In heatstroke, the body is unable to cool itself and the body may have difficulty regulating its temperature.
At normal temperatures, water is lost from the body through various means, including sweating, deep breathing, and perspiration, but when the humidity exceeds 75 percent, sweating is ineffective.
Hypothermia can occur when the outside temperature is lower than the body temperature, which is usually 98.6 degrees.
If the body temperature rises rapidly, sweating does not help either (because sweating lowers the body temperature).
In such a case, a person’s temperature can rise to 106 degrees or more in just 10 or 15 minutes, which is extremely dangerous, causing disability or even death.
If you see someone who is confused or has a red rash on the skin or seems to be breathing fast or has a headache, move them to a cool place, give them cold water, ice. Or cool their neck, face and back with a wet towel and contact a specialist as soon as possible.
In the case of heatstroke, one sweats profusely or sometimes stops sweating, both of which are dangerous, leading to a heart attack. Heatstroke can also damage your brain.
To avoid such situation, choose light clothes, use sunscreen, drink plenty of water, avoid exercising outside the house.
Exhaustion
Physical exhaustion occurs when the body is sweating excessively, i.e. the body is depleting of salts, usually when you are doing physical activity such as running or playing football.
Some symptoms of heat exhaustion include clammy skin, profuse sweating, fainting, feeling very tired, fast heart rate, lightheadedness or feeling nauseous.
If you think you or someone else is experiencing these symptoms, move them to a cool room or shaded area and drink cold water. If that doesn’t help, see a doctor.
How to stay healthy in summer
Extreme temperatures can lead to 17 causes of death, most of which are related to heart and respiratory problems.
Studies show that exposure to extreme heat can lead to mental health problems in pregnant women
This can cause problems.
Even if you’re not working or exercising outdoors in extreme temperatures
Be careful.
When planning activities, try to keep them out of the heat, especially if you have young children or the elderly in your social circle, as they can’t handle the heat as well.
Avoid sun exposure when planning a picnic or outing in summer, make sure to drink plenty of water.
It should be remembered that recently, at least 98 people were killed due to the severe heat wave that lasted for three days in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
