How Heat Affects the Body

Heatstroke is a serious health hazard. In high temperatures, the body absorbs more heat than it can release, causing body temperature to quickly rise to up to 41 degrees. Symptoms include consciousness disturbances, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, sometimes also seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood pressure. Without rapid countermeasures, heatstroke can be fatal within a few hours.

In older, chronically ill people and children, heatstroke usually occurs due to the combination of high temperatures and severe fluid and electrolyte deficiency. Risk factors in healthy adults include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, alcohol consumption, or too much physical exertion, such as sports or outdoor work. At the first signs, emergency services must be alerted immediately, and resuscitation measures should be started if necessary. The body should be cooled down as quickly as possible. Affected individuals should be brought to a cool place and provided with fluids if possible.

Too much sun on the head can lead to sunstroke. Signs include restlessness, dizziness, nausea, headaches, a bright red hot head, consciousness disturbances, and a stiff neck. Affected individuals should be brought to a shady, well-ventilated place and positioned with an elevated head. The head should be cooled with moist, cold cloths. In cases of severe sunstroke symptoms such as consciousness disturbances or a stiff neck, an emergency doctor should be called.

A brief fainting or circulatory collapse indicates a heat collapse. This occurs even with relatively low heat stress, often after prolonged standing. Typically, affected individuals feel better quickly when lying down. Here too, it helps to place people in a cool place in a supine position with elevated legs and offer salty drinks until a doctor arrives.

Heat cramps are usually experienced by people who sweat a lot during exertion. The body loses salt and fluid as a result. Painful muscle cramps are the consequence. The legs and abdomen are usually affected, sometimes only after a few hours. People with a heat cramp should rest in a cool place, gently stretch the affected muscles, and consume electrolyte-containing drinks.

Physical exertion in high temperatures and heavy sweating lead to a loss of fluid and salt. Symptoms of so-called heat exhaustion include weakness, malaise, dizziness, headache, increased sweating, intense thirst, later also dry, pale skin, a body temperature of up to 40 degrees Celsius, and low blood pressure.

Since heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heat stroke, body temperature should be monitored and cooled down, for example by showering, spraying with cold water, or using cold packs on the neck, groin, and armpits. In case of severe symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

This is a skin irritation caused by heavy sweat secretion. A heat rash can occur at any age, but it particularly affects young children. The symptoms appear as red pimples or small blisters, especially in the neck and upper chest area, in the groin, under the breasts, and in the elbow folds.

The best treatment is a cool, less humid environment. The affected areas of the body should be kept dry, and talcum powder can be used additionally. Ointments or creams should not be applied, as they keep the skin warm and moist, which can increase the discomfort.

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