United States: As temperatures remain high and summer humidity persists, the human body engages in a battle that can hinge on just a few degrees.
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Studies that have exposed individuals to heat, particularly outdoors, suggest that the threshold for danger is lower than previously thought, with just a few degrees making a significant difference in the risk of illness and death from extreme heat.
With climate changes resulting from human activities, regions like the United States, Mexico, India, and the Middle East are now facing intense heatwaves, as reported by ABC News.
The normal human body temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
It’s only 7 degrees (or 4 Celsius) away from heatstroke,” concluded Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney in Australia, where he operates a thermoergonomics laboratory.
Emergency Medicine Director, Dr. Neil Gandhi of Houston Methodist Hospital added during heat waves anybody presenting a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or above without an apparent source is evaluated for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Gandhi added, “We routinely will see core temperatures greater than 104, 105 degrees during some of the heat episodes.”
Impact of Heat on the Body
According to Jay, heat can lead to death in three ways: heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration. Heat stroke, which causes severe increases in body temperature leading to organ failure, is the primary concern.
As Jay explained, the body responds to excessive heat by increasing blood flow to the skin, which can reduce blood and oxygen supply to the stomach and intestines, potentially allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream, as reported by ABC News.
Jay added, “That sets off a cascade of effects,” and, “Clotting around the body and multiple organ failure and, ultimately, death.”
However, the real villain in heat is the load it puts on the heart, particularly, for those in a Cardiovascular disease category, as highlighted by Jay.
It once more initiates an increase in blood flow at the skin layer to assist in sweating of deep-body heat. That results in lower blood pressure. This event results in the heart’s effort to pump more blood in an attempt to prevent fainting.
It again starts with blood rushing to the skin to help shed core heat. That causes blood pressure to drop. The heart responds by trying to pump more blood to keep you from passing out.
Jay said, “You’re asking the heart to do a lot more work than it usually has to do,” and, for someone who has a heart condition, “it’s like running for a bus with a dodgy (hamstring). Something’s going to give.”