This week, we discuss health problems associated with extreme heat. We explain what experts recommend to prevent and treat these issues.
Extremely hot weather is common in many parts of the world. While hot weather usually just makes people feel hot, it can also cause serious medical problems and even death.
Floods, storms and other natural disasters kill thousands of people every year. So does extreme heat. Experts say that heat may be nature’s deadliest killer.
For example, Indian officials blamed extreme heat for killing more than two hundred people in late May. Temperatures reached almost 50°C in several Indian states.
‘Several hot days in a row are considered a heat wave. Experts say heatwaves often become dangerous when the night-time temperature does not drop much from the highest daytime temperature. This puts great stress on the human body.
Doctors say there are many things people can do to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat. Stay out of the sun if possible. Drink plenty of cool water. Wear light-coloured clothing made of natural materials. Make sure the clothing is loose to allow freedom of movement. Also, familiarise yourself with the warning signs of medical problems linked to heat.
The most common health problem associated with hot weather is heat stress. Usually, it is also the least severe. Heat stress is caused by wearing heavy clothing, doing physical work or exercise, hot weather and high humidity. Humidity is the amount of water in the air.
If several of these factors are present at the same time, a person’s body temperature can rise above safe levels. The person will lose large amounts of body water and salt through perspiration. Sweating is one of the body’s defences against heat. It is how the body releases water to cool the skin.
Most people only experience muscle pain due to heat stress. This pain is a warning that the body is overheating. Doctors recommend that anyone experiencing muscle pain should stop all activity and rest in a cool place. They should also drink cool liquids. Doctors advise against returning to physical activity for a few hours, as serious conditions could develop.
Some people are at greater risk of heat stress. These include those with a weak or damaged heart, high blood pressure, or other blood system problems. Severe heat poses additional risks to young children, older adults, and individuals with diabetes.
It is also dangerous for overweight people and those with excess body fat, as well as for people who drink alcohol. Hot weather also poses additional risks for individuals taking medication for high blood pressure, poor blood flow, anxiety or depression.
Untreated heat stress can lead to a more serious condition called heat exhaustion. A person suffering from heat exhaustion loses too much water through perspiration. They become dehydrated.
They feel weak and extremely tired. They may have trouble walking normally. Other symptoms of heat exhaustion include feeling sick, a fast heartbeat, breathing difficulties and pain in the head, chest or stomach. Doctors recommend that people experiencing these symptoms rest quietly in a cool place and drink plenty of water. They also recommend washing with cool water.
Heat exhaustion can develop quickly. However, it can also develop slowly over a period of days. Doctors call this dehydration exhaustion. Each day, the body loses a little more water than it takes in. The person may not even realise that this problem is developing. If this continues for several days, the effects will be the same as those of the usual kind of heat exhaustion.
Experts say that a drop of even two percent in the body’s water supply can cause signs of dehydration. These include memory problems and difficulty with simple mathematics.
Dehydration limits a person’s ability to work and think. Experts say that a reduction of only four or five per cent in body water leads to a twenty to thirty per cent drop in work ability. The loss of salt through perspiration also reduces the amount of work that muscles can perform. The treatment for dehydration and heat exhaustion is the same. Drink plenty of water and rest in a cool place. Even better, doctors say, drink about two litres of water a day to prevent dehydration.
If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke is the most serious disorder linked to hot weather. It occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body’s temperature rises and sweating stops.
Generally, body temperature rises to more than 40°C. The body stops sweating. The skin becomes dry and extremely hot. A person may become unconscious and unaware of what is happening.
Doctors say that tissues and organs begin to ‘cook’ when the body’s temperature exceeds 42°C. This can result in permanent brain damage and death. Anyone suffering from heat stroke requires immediate medical attention. Doctors say that such treatment is necessary, otherwise the person could die before help arrives.
The purpose of immediate treatment is to cool the victim down as quickly as possible and prevent their body temperature from rising further. Begin by moving the victim out of the sun. Raise the person’s feet up by about thirty centimetres. Remove the victim’s clothing. Apply cool water to the body. Place ice in areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, such as the back of the neck and under the arms. These include the back of the neck and under the arms.
It is important to know the danger signs of medical disorders linked to hot weather, according to experts. It is also important to know what to do if these signs appear in yourself or someone else.
Experts say water is important for many reasons. Between 55% and 75% of the body is water. Water in the bloodstream carries hormones and antibodies throughout the body. Water in urine carries waste materials away. Water is needed to cool the body down on hot days and when we are working or exercising. It carries body heat to the skin’s surface. There, the heat is lost through perspiration.
Health experts say that adults should drink around two litres of water a day to replace all the water lost through liquid waste and perspiration. They recommend drinking more than this in hot weather.
Experts say it is important to drink water before, during and after exercise. They recommend drinking water even before you start to feel thirsty. During hot weather, it is best to drink cool liquids. You should also avoid sweet drinks and alcohol.
It is also worth noting that doctors say it is possible to drink too much water. Some people do this, for example, if they exercise hard during a heatwave. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much water can cause hyponatraemia. This condition occurs when the level of sodium in the blood falls too low.
This results in an increase in the amount of water in the body. This causes cells to swell. The Mayo Clinic experts say that these enlarged cells can make a person feel unwell or restless. They can also interfere with mental ability, cause muscle weakness and trigger headaches. In mild cases, reducing fluids may be all that is needed. However, medical help is necessary if the condition is more severe.
Experts have advice for runners and others exercising or working hard in hot weather. They recommend drinking a sports drink containing sodium to help prevent the condition.
Bob Doughty: Doctors say that actions other than drinking water can protect against the health dangers of heat. Stay out of the sun if possible. Wear loose, lightweight, light-coloured clothing. Wear a hat or other head covering when in the sun. Eat fewer hot and heavy foods. If possible, cook food during the cooler times of the day. Also, take more frequent rests. Physical activity produces body heat.
Experts say that taking these simple steps can prevent health problems linked to heat. They will keep you healthy, make you feel better and may even save your life.