Heat endangers our health: this is how you can protect yourself properly!

Heat endangers our health: this is how you can protect yourself properly!

When temperatures skyrocket, it can quickly become a challenge – not only for nature, but also for us humans. The summer heat can pose particular health risks. This is what the experts from Radio Gütersloh impressively summarized. The human body normally has a core temperature of around 37 degrees. But external conditions, such as high temperatures and humidity, can influence this temperature and even become dangerous.

In the hot summer months, our bodies can produce up to two liters of sweat per hour to cool down. This causes so-called evaporative cooling, which helps regulate body temperature. But living in the heat has its price: sweating blood often leads to swelling in the extremities and can be bought at the cost of increased fluid loss, which thickens the composition of the blood and can therefore be dangerous.

Risks and symptoms of heat stress

The symptoms of high heat stress are varied. People often experience dizziness, headaches or even fatigue. Facial flushing and muscle pain are also not uncommon. Groups such as old people over 65, children and people with previous illnesses or certain medications are particularly at risk. These risk groups are even more threatened by increasing global warming, as is the case Robert Koch Institute highlights. The need for effective heat protection is also emphasized there.

In Germany, we expect an increase in heat waves in the coming decades due to climate change. When temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius and there is little wind, followed by tropical nights in which it does not cool down below 20 degrees, one speaks of a heat wave. This usually lasts several days. The experts are particularly affected by Climate human health According to the city residents, because in metropolitan areas they miss easy access to cool places and because of the sealed surfaces they feel the heat every day.

Precaution and protective measures

So what can you do to protect yourself during such hot spells? Adequate fluid intake is essential to replenish the salts lost through sweating. Isotonic drinks can be helpful here, while alcohol is unsuitable as a thirst quencher because it removes water from the body. You should also postpone physical activities to the cooler morning or evening hours and keep the apartment cool. Also make sure to wear light and airy clothing. And if you are in an extremely hot environment, such as a sauna or outdoor exercise, it is advisable to consult a doctor about the heat tolerance of medications.

As the heat increases, we must always pay attention to the vulnerable groups: old people, pregnant women and people with serious illnesses. The Robert Koch Institute calls for increased cooperation between health authorities to create preventative measures and educate the population about the health risks.

So climate change has a direct impact on our health. And the responsibility lies not only with individuals, but also with governments and institutions that have to communicate in order to make heat prevention efficient. Only together will it be possible to protect the health of the population in times of rising temperatures.