Staying Safe in Extreme Heat: Understanding the Effects on Your Body
Introduction
Earth recently experienced the hottest day in its history, a record that experts warn will continue to be broken due to the climate crisis. In fact, a recent report revealed that last month was the hottest June on record, by a substantial margin. This increase in temperature has led to more frequent extremely hot days, resulting in devastating effects. Many regions in the US now face at least seven additional days of extreme heat each year, causing heat-related deaths and illnesses. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how the body reacts to extreme heat and how to stay safe in such conditions.
How Your Body Responds to Extreme Heat
Typically, your body is accustomed to a certain temperature range, around 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When there is a deviation from this range, either higher or lower, your brain initiates mechanisms to cool down or warm up the body. Sweating is the most common means of cooling down, as the pores open and sweat evaporates, refreshing the body. Additionally, your body dilates blood vessels and increases heart rate, transporting heat and blood to the skin’s surface to release excess heat.
However, in high temperatures, it becomes increasingly difficult for your body to maintain its cool. When exposed to hot and humid environments, sweat does not evaporate easily, leading to further increases in body temperature. Consequently, high body temperatures can cause damage to vital organs and result in various heat-related illnesses.
Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat-related illness and are typically experienced by individuals who sweat excessively, even during exercise. These cramps occur when excessive sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture, resulting in muscle pain or spasms.
Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is a common skin irritation caused by excessive sweat in hot and humid weather. It appears as a red cluster of pimples or blisters and is more prevalent in young children.
When your body’s cooling mechanisms become overwhelmed, it can lead to heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include excessive sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache, pale and clammy skin, and a rapid pulse. Heat exhaustion serves as a warning sign that your body is struggling to cope with extreme heat and should be addressed promptly.
If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness. Heat stroke occurs when the body temperature exceeds 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms of heat stroke include extremely high body temperatures, red and dry skin, rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Confusion and agitation are key indicators of heat stroke. Immediate medical attention is necessary, as untreated heat stroke can be fatal.
Risks and Precautions
Certain individuals, such as the elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, children, student athletes, and pets, are at a higher risk of experiencing severe heat-related illnesses. The elderly and those with chronic conditions may be less aware of and responsive to changes in temperature, while children may struggle to recognize or react to heat-related illnesses. Student athletes and pets are also more susceptible to extreme heat.
Leaving children or pets in a hot car, even for a minute, is extremely dangerous and should never be done. It is essential to monitor vulnerable populations and ensure their safety during periods of extreme heat.
Staying Safe in Extreme Heat
If you or someone around you exhibits symptoms of heat-related illness, such as dizziness, nausea, or headaches, it is crucial to act immediately. Move the affected individual away from the heat and into a cool environment. Providing water and other fluids can aid in the cooling process. If the symptoms worsen, such as loss of consciousness or persistent nausea and vomiting, call 911 for immediate medical assistance.
To prevent heat-related illnesses, it is advisable to avoid outdoor activities, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when temperatures are typically at their highest. If venturing outdoors is necessary, wear light-colored clothing, cover your head, and drink plenty of fluids. Do not wait until you feel thirsty to hydrate, as this can indicate dehydration. Aim to drink at least one glass of water per hour or more.
Find ways to stay in air-conditioned environments, such as visiting malls or public libraries, during peak heat hours. Fans may provide temporary relief, but they should not be solely relied upon to prevent heat-related illnesses. Checking on neighbors, parents, and friends, particularly older individuals and those living alone, is important to ensure their well-being during extreme heat.
Conclusion
Understanding how the body reacts to extreme heat and taking necessary precautions is crucial for staying safe during heatwaves. Heat-related illnesses can range from mild to severe, and early intervention is key to preventing further complications. By staying hydrated, remaining vigilant of symptoms, and seeking cooler environments, individuals can reduce the risks associated with extreme heat. As the frequency of heatwaves continues to rise due to the climate crisis, it is vital to prioritize our safety and the well-being of those around us.
Summary
The Earth recently experienced its hottest day on record, highlighting the increasingly severe effects of the climate crisis. Rising temperatures have led to more frequent extreme heat days, resulting in devastating consequences such as heat-related deaths and illnesses. Understanding how the body responds to extreme heat is essential for staying safe. Sweating and dilation of blood vessels are some of the body’s cooling mechanisms, but in hot and humid environments, these mechanisms become less effective. Heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, can have detrimental effects on the body. Certain populations, such as the elderly, people with chronic conditions, children, student athletes, and pets, are more susceptible to these illnesses. Taking precautions, such as avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, staying hydrated, and seeking cooler environments, can help prevent heat-related illnesses. Additionally, checking on vulnerable individuals is essential to ensure their safety. In the face of increasing heatwaves, prioritizing safety and understanding the body’s response to extreme heat is paramount.
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CNN
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Earth recently recorded the hottest day in its history – a record that experts warn will likely be broken repeatedly as the climate crisis drives temperatures higher and higher.
And it’s happening fast: a new report found last month was the hottest June on the planet by a “substantial margin,” meaning the nine hottest Junes have it all happened in the last nine years.
Extremely hot days, arguably the hottest days of summer, are more frequent now than in 1970 in 195 places in the US, according to the Climate Central research group. Of those places, about 71% now face at least seven additional days of extreme heat each year.
The effects have been devastating.
In one Texas county, at least 11 people died in just over a week during a relentless June heat wave. In Mexico, high temperatures have killed at least 112 people since March. TO recent heat wave in India it killed at least 44 people across the state of Bihar.
Here’s what happens to your body in extreme heat, what to watch out for, and how to stay safe.
Normally, your body is used to a certain range of temperatures, usually between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When your brain detects a change, either lower or higher than that, it tries to help your body cool down or warm up, according to Dr. Judith Linden, executive vice chair of the department of emergency medicine at Boston Medical Center and professor in the department of emergency medicine at Boston University School of Medicine.
“There are several different ways in which (the brain) tries to cool the body. One way, the most common way we think of, is you sweat,” Linden said. “The pores open, the body sweats and the sweat evaporates, that refreshes the body.”
The second way your body cools is by dilating the vessels and increasing your heart rate, which helps bring heat and blood to the surface of your body and helps release that excess heat.
When you’re exposed to high temperatures, it becomes harder for your body to try to keep up with the chill. And if your environment is hot and humid, sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily, further increasing your body temperature, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“The higher the humidity, the lower temperatures you need for extreme heat,” Linden said.
High body temperatures can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. They can also lead to various heat related illnesses.
Mild heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, are the most common, Linden said. Heat cramps can develop in people who sweat a lot, even during exercise. Excessive sweating consumes all the salt and moisture in the body and can lead to muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs, according to the CDC.
TO rash can also develop. That’s a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating in hot, humid weather, and it’s more common in young children, the CDC says. It’s usually a red cluster of pimples or blisters, and it tends to be in places like the neck, upper chest, or elbow creases.
When your body begins to exceed its ability to cool itself, you can develop what is known as heat exhaustion.
“In this case, you will see excessive sweating because your body will really try to keep up with that extra heat. You’re going to feel dizzy, you can feel dizzy, often people have nausea, headaches, and their skin often looks pale and clammy and their pulse is often rapid,” Linden said.
“This is the body’s last attempt to cool down before it really goes to a point of no return.”
a heat stroke it is the most serious heat-related illness and, if left untreated, can lead to death.
“That’s where your body temperature goes above 104 to 105 degrees or more, and this is where your mechanisms start to fail,” Linden said.
Warning signs can include extremely high body temperatures, red and dry skin, rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, or loss of consciousness, according to the CDC.
The hallmark of heat stroke is confusion and agitation, Linden said.
“So when someone is out in the heat and they get confused and agitated, that’s heatstroke until proven otherwise and you should call 911 for that or get help right away and get the person out of the heat.”
The elderly, people with chronic medical conditions, and children are at increased risk of severe heat-related illness.
The elderly and people with chronic medical conditions may be less likely to feel and respond to changes in temperature and may be taking medications that worsen the effects of heat, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying.
“Also very young (people), because they’re less likely to recognize heat-related illnesses and less likely to get out of the heat if they start to get hot,” Linden said.
Student athletes and pets are also at higher risk, he added.
“In this climate, you should never, ever, ever leave a child or pet in the car for even a minute,” Linden added.
When your community faces extreme heat, there are several things you can do to keep yourself and others safe.
First, watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion or other illnesses.
“If someone starts feeling dizzy, dizzy, nauseous or has a headache, that is the time to act immediately,” Linden said. “That means taking them out of the heat and into a cool environment.”
Giving someone who may be experiencing symptoms water and giving them fluids can help them cool down. If someone begins to lose consciousness or has nausea or vomiting, call 911.
“If you see someone with any kind of confusion, that’s an immediate red flag,” Linden added.
When it’s hot outside, try to avoid outdoor activities, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to Linden. If you must go out, wear light-colored clothing, cover your head, and drink plenty of fluids.
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water, as that can be a sign of dehydration. Linden recommends drinking at least one glass of water, or more, per hour.
“If you start to feel lightheaded, dizzy, sweaty, with a racing pulse, get out of the heat immediately,” Linden said.
Try to find air conditioning or places in your area where you can go to stay cool, according to Ready.gov. Even spending a few hours at a mall or public library can help.
When you’re home, fans can help, but don’t rely on them as your only way to cool down; while it may make you more comfortable, they will not help prevent heat-related illness.
“If you’re in a very hot room, if you have a fan, is that helpful? No. I think if you have a fan and you can get sprayed … then fans can be helpful,” Linden said. “Fans are not infallible.”
Finally, be sure to check in with your neighbors, parents and friends, especially older people who may live alone or in isolation, Linden said.
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