Excessive heat and it’s adverse effects

EXCESSIVE HEAT AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS
Hello there, this is Goke Akingbade (your Safety Guide) here with another interesting point of discussion. Today, we will be focusing on how extreme hot weather conditions can have an adverse impact on our health.
A healthy human body is able to maintain its internal temperature around 37 degree Celsius. A rise in body temperature greater than 1 degree Celsius happens only during illness or when the the person has been in a hot environment for a while. As the environment warms up, the body tends to also warm up. In this way, the body raises the rate of heat loss to balance the heat burden. So, in a hot environment, the rate of heat gain is more than that of heat loss and the body temperature starts to rise. One effect of heat gain on the body is dehydration of water from the body usually through sweating. The body then begins to lose more water than ever before.
OTHER EFFECTS OF EXTREME HEAT
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat stroke, and possibly death. These serious health consequences usually affect more vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with existing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Socioeconomic factors, such as economically disadvantaged and socially isolated individuals, are also at risk from heat-related burdens. As global temperatures rise and extreme heat events increase in frequency due to climate change we can expect to see more heat-related illnesses and mortality. Public health systems need to be prepared for extreme events and responses will demand a concerted effort among the public health community, the medical establishment, emergency responses teams, the housing authority, and law enforcement in order to quickly identify and serve the populations vulnerable to extreme heat events.
HEALTH IMPACTS Increased temperatures and increase in extreme heat events cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and possibly death, especially in vulnerable populations.
High concentrations of buildings in urban areas cause urban heat island effect, generation and absorbing heat, making the urban center several degrees warmer than surrounding areas.
STEPS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF EXTREME HEAT
Regularly drinking water and other food contents rich in water( watermelon, pineapple tea etc) in order to hydrate yourself so as to prevent dehydration. It is recommended that we take up to eight ounce glasses of fluid daily.
Heat early warning systems and proactive heat wave response plans
Increase the use of air conditioning during such period
Reduce the length of time spent outdoors during extreme heat events
Increase the use of sun-shielding clothing
This is where we are going to stop for now, so till I come your again, this is Goke Akingbade ( Your Safety Guide) wishing you a restful rest of the day.