Excessive heat: the 6 health risks and how to defend yourself

Temperatures are rising in many Italian cities and a column that rises above 40 degrees represents “a serious danger to health, especially for more fragile subjects such as the elderly, children and people with pre-existing pathologies”.
To warn of the dangers of too much heat are the experts of Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima), who in this regard have released a guide on how to defend themselves.

“The excessive heat it can alter the body temperature regulation system», explains President Sima, Alexander Miani. «The human body cools itself through perspiration, but in certain environmental conditions this is not enough: excessive humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, with body heat rising rapidly and can damage vital organs and the brain. Excessively high temperatures can cause minor disturbances such as cramps, fainting, edemabut also serious problems, from congestion at the dehydrationaggravating the health conditions of people with pre-existing chronic diseases”.

What can happen to the body when the heat is excessive

Excessive heat can therefore have important consequences on the human body. Specifically, among the heat-related disorders reported by doctors, the most frequent are:

Sunstroke: causes rashes or burns also accompanied by symptoms similar to heatstroke;

Cramps: physical pains caused by a loss of sodium due to sweating and a consequent modification of the water-salt balance;

Edema: caused by fluid retention in the lower limbs as a result of prolonged peripheral vasodilatation;

Congestion: caused by the intake of frozen drinks in an overheated body, the symptoms consist of sweating and chest pain;

Dehydration: main symptoms are thirst, weakness, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, dry skin and mucous membranes, muscle cramps, lowering of blood pressure;

Heat stroke: occurs when the physiological thermoregulation capacity is compromised and manifests itself with a wide gradation of signs and symptoms depending on the severity of the condition. The first symptom is represented by a sudden general malaise, followed by headache, nausea, vomiting and a feeling of dizziness, up to states of anxiety and confusion.

8 gestures to defend yourself from excessive heat

Here are the tips from the experts Italian Society of Environmental Medicine to defend against record heat:

1.Avoid exposing yourself to heat and direct sun and leave the house only in the cooler hours

2.Ensure a adequate air exchange in the house and facilitate natural ventilation

3.Keep rooms cool shielding windows exposed to the sun (using shutters, blinds, curtains, etc.)

4.Close windows during the day and open them during the coolest hours of the day (in the evening and at night)

5.Do frequent baths and showers and with warm water

6. Hire at least 3 liters of water during the dayavoid alcohol and prefer foods that contain a lot of water, such as fruit and vegetables

7.When you leave the house, protect your eyes with sunglasses and prevent burns with sunscreen with a high protective factor

8.Avoid outdoor sports in the hottest hours