What are the effects of heatwaves on the body? Two people died from 12 days of heat in Shenzhen, and Beijing broke the record for consecutive days of high temperatures. High temperatures | Weather | Record

The world is in a scorching heat.

Since the beginning of summer this year, Asia, Europe, and the United States have all been facing extreme hot weather.

A heatwave has also swept through the capital city of Beijing. As of noon on July 18th, Beijing has been experiencing temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius for 27 consecutive days, setting the longest record high temperature line and breaking the 26 day continuous high temperature record set in 2000.

Official data shows that from 1990 to 2020, the average temperature in Beijing exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for 10.6 days.

High temperatures affect people's health in various ways, with the most direct impact being heatstroke. Heatstroke refers to an acute disease characterized by central nervous system or cardiovascular system disorders caused by disturbances in heat balance or water and salt metabolism in a high-temperature environment. When exposed to high temperatures for a long time, the human body loses balance between heat production and dissipation, leading to impaired temperature regulation, sweat gland dysfunction, and heatstroke.

In medicine, according to the different pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, heatstroke is usually divided into heat spasms, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The most common type of heat stroke is heat exhaustion, also known as "collapse", which includes dizziness, headache, trembling, and thirst. It can occur in anyone and is usually not severe, as long as the patient cools down within 30 minutes.

The most severe case of heatstroke is heat stroke, usually referring to a core body temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. This is an emergency physical condition, with symptoms including shortness of breath, mental confusion or seizures, as well as nausea. If not treated in a timely manner, it may lead to long-term organ damage or even death.

According to data, the mortality rate of heat stroke exceeds 50%. Related media recently reported that a child in Beijing was sent to the hospital for intubation treatment due to heatstroke. 120 reminds that heatstroke in children is more dangerous, and attention should be paid to heatstroke.

Fatal heatstroke incidents have also occurred frequently in many other parts of the country. On July 15th, the Shenzhen Health Commission officially announced that 2 people had died from heat in the local area within 12 days, and 60 people had been "roasted" and fainted; According to statistics from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, since July, the hospital has treated and rescued a total of 8 severe heat stroke patients, with the majority being elderly patients, but there are also some young people. After rescue, 1 case improved and was discharged, 3 cases were still under observation in the emergency room, and 4 cases were transferred to the intensive care unit for further treatment.

Experts suggest that if someone experiences heatstroke, they should immediately leave the high-temperature environment and quickly transfer to a cool and ventilated place. Lie the person suffering from heatstroke flat, raise their head, and loosen the buttons on their clothes. In addition, hydration is also very important. When a person is conscious, they can appropriately supplement with cool drinks, such as sports drinks, but should not add too much water to avoid causing nausea, vomiting, etc.

In extreme weather, vulnerable populations are more susceptible to harm, including young infants and the elderly; Outdoor workers and those who are more exposed to high temperatures are also prone to symptoms. Therefore, the working time on hot days should not be too long and the intensity should not be too high.

In addition, people with basic diseases, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes patients, will also increase the risk in extreme heat weather, and high temperature will exacerbate the extent of these diseases.

In a popular science article published on July 19th, the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University reminded that although vulnerable groups such as the elderly are more susceptible to extreme heat, young people should also be taken seriously. For example, in Nanjing, a man suffered from heatstroke after running 5000 meters outdoors and was hospitalized for treatment.

According to a 2021 study by The Lancet, nearly 500000 people worldwide die each year from overheating. Last summer, up to 61000 people in Europe may have died in the heat wave.

Some climate risk experts refer to heatwaves as "silent, invisible killers". Although their direct impact on human health may be limited, they can trigger other natural disasters, such as wildfires, which can cause air pollution and long-term damage to human health, such as organ inflammation or tissue damage.

Multiple studies have also shown that high temperatures can have an impact on pregnant women and lead to low birth weight and premature birth of infants.

Extreme high temperatures also have some less obvious risks, such as deteriorating mental health and increasing the risk of car accidents and drowning.

Extreme weather has become almost the norm in recent years. Experts call for increased attention to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and isolated populations, in hot weather. Once heatstroke occurs, it is important to immediately seek professional care.

How to determine if the symptoms of heatstroke are severe? The Intensive Care Department of Zhongshan Hospital believes that if there are symptoms such as chest tightness, suffocation, sweating, fatigue, dizziness, etc., it means it is a precursor to heatstroke and should be taken out of the high-temperature environment and given cooling; When the patient's body temperature rises, accompanied by changes in consciousness, dehydration symptoms, lack of consciousness, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., they should be sent to the hospital as soon as possible.

In addition, preventing heatstroke is particularly important. When going out, one should take good precautions and avoid working in high temperature environments for a long time; Exercise should also avoid sun exposure during periods such as noon or afternoon; Timely hydration and adequate sleep can also help prevent heatstroke.