Abnormal heat in the USA: how it affects the body and how you can help the body in such weather

Unusually hot weather, lack of ventilation, crowded spaces, intense physical activity are all factors that can contribute to an increase in body temperature. If left untreated, this could pose a serious risk to our health, reports with the BBC.

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The National Weather Service called the heatwave in the United States "historic." Numerous new temperature records are being set, sometimes even absolute ones.

Heat is sometimes called the "silent killer" because symptoms of heat-related illness can often go undetected until it is too late. Heat can also worsen symptoms of underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes or kidney problems. Young children, older adults, homeless people and people with chronic illnesses are at risk, reports RG.

Most heat-related deaths in America are largely preventable, according to experts, and there are many ways to help people survive extreme heat swings.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats, often during physical activity in a hot environment.

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If the body temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, the body loses its ability to cool itself. As a result, heat stroke can occur, which can lead to death.

Here's what you need to know about the dangers of high body temperature for our health.

How extreme heat affects our body

When the body heats up, the blood vessels expand. This leads to a decrease in blood pressure and makes the heart work harder to pump blood around the body.

This may cause mild but unpleasant symptoms such as an itchy rash or swollen legs.

The body responds to an increase in temperature by increasing blood flow to the skin, bringing heat to the surface of the body. This produces sweat, which evaporates and cools the body.

But sweating leads to the loss of fluid and salts, and, very importantly, the balance between them changes in the body.
This, combined with a decrease in blood pressure, can lead to heat exhaustion. Its symptoms include:

• dizziness
• nausea
• fainting
• confusion
• muscle cramps
• headache
• profuse sweating
• fatigue

If blood pressure drops too much, the risk of a heart attack increases.

Why does the body react this way?

The human body strives to keep the body temperature below 37,5°C, whether in a winter blizzard or in the heat of summer. This is the temperature to which our body has adapted in the process of evolution. But when the weather gets hotter, the body has to work harder to maintain optimal body temperature.

It dilates more blood vessels closer to the surface of the skin to carry excess heat out, and the body begins to sweat. When sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases heat loss at the surface of the skin.

Heat exhaustion

If the body heats up to 39-40°C, the brain commands the muscles to slow down - a feeling of fatigue sets in.

At temperatures of 40-41°C, heat exhaustion is possible, and at temperatures above 41°C, the body begins to shut down.
Chemical processes begin to be disrupted, cells are destroyed, and there is a risk of failure of many organs.

Under these conditions, the body cannot even sweat because the blood flow to the skin is cut off and the skin becomes cold and clammy.

Heatstroke - which can occur at any temperature above 40°C - requires professional medical attention and if not given immediately, chances of survival may be slim.

The best method of cooling is to immerse the person in ice water or apply ice packs to the groin and armpits, where important arteries are located, but this all depends on how long the body has been exposed to elevated temperatures.

George Havenit, professor of environmental physiology and ergonomics at Loughborough University, says humidity - the amount of moisture in the air - plays a decisive role in how much sweat our bodies can produce.

If the humidity is high, our ability to sweat is reduced and we feel bad. But in hot and dry conditions, sweat can help.

“We can evaporate a lot of moisture from the skin, but we also have to produce it,” says Professor Havenit. “This means that you can quickly achieve very high sweat rates, but the amount of sweat your body produces is limited.”

So, a person running at a speed of about 15 km per hour at temperatures up to 37 ° C will have to produce four liters of sweat per hour.

Does heat really kill?

High temperatures can cause death. In most cases, these are heart attacks and strokes caused by the stress associated with trying to maintain body temperature at a stable level.

When the air temperature exceeds 25°C-26°C, the mortality rate also increases.

However, scientists have observed that mortality tends to be caused by higher temperatures in the spring or early summer rather than during the "peak of summer", with the first 24 hours of a heat wave being significantly more dangerous. This may be due to the fact that as summer approaches, we begin to change our daily behavior and gradually get used to coping with the heat.

Who is more at risk

Older age or some chronic diseases (such as heart disease) can make people less able to cope with the stress that heat puts on the body.

With diabetes, the body loses water faster, and some complications of the disease can change the condition of the blood vessels and the ability to sweat.

Children and sedentary people are also more vulnerable. Brain diseases such as dementia can cause people to be unaware of the heat or unable to help themselves.

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Homeless people who spend most of their time outdoors, as well as residents of apartments on the upper floors that heat up more, are also at greater risk than others.

What to do if a person has heat exhaustion or heat stroke

If a person can be cooled within half an hour, then heat exhaustion usually does not lead to serious consequences.

• Move the victim of the heat to a cool place.
• Lay on your back and lift your legs slightly.
• Give plenty of water to drink - sports drinks or rehydration fluids are also fine.
• Cool the skin - spray with cool water or wipe with a sponge and fan. Cold packs to the armpits or neck will also help.

However, if the person does not recover within 30 minutes, heat stroke usually follows. This is a medical emergency and you should seek professional medical attention immediately.

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