Heat endangers our health: How to protect yourself right!

Heat endangers our health: How to protect yourself right!

If the temperatures rapidly, it can quickly become a challenge - not only for nature, but also for us humans. The summer heat in particular can bring health risks. This has been impressively summarized this by the experts from Radio Gütersloh . The human body normally has a core temperature of around 37 degrees. However, the external conditions, such as high temperatures and humidity, can influence this temperature and even become dangerous.

In the hot summer months, our body can produce up to two liters of sweat per hour to cool off. This leads to so -called evaporation cold, which helps to regulate the body temperature. But life in the heat has its price: blood sails often lead to swelling in the extremities and can be bought with an increased loss of fluid, which can thicken the blood composition and thus be dangerous.

risks and symptoms of the heat load

The symptoms of high heat load are diverse. People often suffer from dizziness, headache or even exhaustion. Face and muscle pain are also not uncommon. Groups like old people over 65, children and people with previous illnesses or certain medication are particularly at risk. These risk groups are even more threatened by the progressive global warming, as is the Robert Koch-Institut . 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. At temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and little wind, followed by tropical nights in which it does not cool down below 20 degrees, one speaks of a heat wave. This usually takes several days. The experts from Klima Mensch Health According to the city dwellers, since they miss the heat in metropolitan areas and feel the heat every day due to the sealed surfaces.

provision and protective measures

What can you do to protect yourself during such heat periods? Sufficient fluid intake is essential to compensate for the salts lost by sweating. Isotonic drinks can be helpful here, while alcohol is unsuitable as a thirst quencher because it removes water from the body. In addition, you should move physical activities to the cooler morning or evening hours and keep the apartment cool. Also make sure to wear bright and airy clothes. And should you stay in an extremely hot environment, such as in a sauna or outdoor sports, a medical consultation with regard to the heat tolerance of medication is advisable.

With increasing heat, we always have to focus on the vulnerable groups: old people, pregnant women and people with serious illnesses. The Robert Koch Institute appeals to the increased cooperation between health authorities in order to create preventive measures and to clarify the population about the health risks.

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