As much as inflammation can insidiously incinerate our brains extreme heat is about to become one of the prime threats to our health as record-breaking heat waves start to increasingly permeate our weather patterns.
Over the past fours years, more than 200,000 people have died in the E.U as a result of excessive heat and many of these deaths were preventable. A large majority of homes lack air-conditioning, a problem that is compounded by the desire to phase out environmental exposure to hydrofluorocarbons, a cooling agent found in air-conditioning units.
Exposure to dangerously high temperatures can exacerbate respiratory diseases and place a major strain on the heart and the kidneys. If we’re out in the sun cramping, dizziness, confusion and weakness signifies that we are rapidly facing heat exhaustion, which pre-emps heat stroke.
Finding a shady spot or even better an air-conditioned environment should be our immediate next step. Spraying our clothes with water and having a cool but not cold shower, too cold will increase the body’s core temperature, and hydrating with water, would help to reduce inner heat. Be careful that you are not using a fan that blows warm air towards your body. It’s all about keeping both your internal and external environment as cool as possible.
