About how our brain tries to deal with heat and why heat stroke is extremely dangerous for humans, The Washington Post writes, citing medical experts.
Rebecca Stearns, Director of the Institute. Cory Stringer of the University of Connecticut, who works on preventing heat stroke in athletes, said that when the body overheats, cells literally “fry,” leading to their death and dysfunction.
University of Florida associate professor of applied physiology and kinesiology Orlando Laitano is more specific: “We are now confident that heat stroke is almost the same as a concussion.” That’s why, he says, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take them seriously.
“Heat stroke not only has a high mortality rate, but those who recover may face related health problems in the future,” Laitano said.
In one of their studies, the assistant professor and his colleagues found that heat stroke, for example, in mice can even change the genome, followed by increased susceptibility to immune diseases.
And the conclusion, writes the author of the article, is very disappointing: today, approximately 30 percent of the world’s population is exposed to dangerous heat for at least 20 days a year. And by the year 2100, the number of such people may increase to 74 percent of the total population of the planet.
Scientists say that anyone can develop diseases associated with high air temperatures, but the elderly and children are the most vulnerable. High humidity, intense physical activity, and sweltering nights increase the risk.
It is important to know that the cells of the body function properly only in a narrow range of body temperature, between 36.7 and 37.5 degrees Celsius in a healthy person. Intense heat, along with cells, destroys proteins and damages DNA, says Rebeca Stearns.
For each person, nature has provided for the presence of an internal thermostat located in the hypothalamus of the brain. It senses body temperature and can activate autonomic systems that begin to cool the body, for example by sweating and dilating our blood vessels.
“However, sweating is a double-edged sword. Yes, it helps regulate body temperature, but it also leads to dehydration,” says Laitano.
And the dilation of the blood vessels causes the heart to more than double its output, pumping massive amounts of blood from the heart to the surface of the body. Hot air raises skin temperature, but the higher the humidity, the harder it is for sweat to evaporate and cool us down.
Doctors distinguish two types of heat stroke: classic heat stroke and exercise heat stroke. As has been said, Classic is more likely to affect children and the elderly, whose bodies are less capable of regulating body temperature. Heatstroke that occurs after exercise can affect anyone, but young people, especially athletes and military personnel, are more likely to suffer from it.
It is estimated that mortality from exercise heat stroke can reach 27 percent of people, and it is much higher for classic heat stroke.
“It’s very rare for people to sustain permanent damage from heat stroke and survive,” Sterns said. “Unfortunately, most of these cases end in death. But there are many cases that require lifelong care.”
To prevent heat stroke, you must give yourself time to adjust to the heat and stay hydrated. Outdoor sports should not be done alone, and it is important to learn to recognize the signs of heat stroke in yourself and others. Air conditioning and fans can help, but may not always be available. A cold shower can be an effective alternative.
Stearns cautions that if you feel sick, weak, confused, or agitated, these are all red flags. Stumbling, fainting, or inability to coordinate movements may follow. In this case, cooling must begin immediately. He may apply ice wrapped in towels to the neck, groin, or extremities. Cold water immersion is the first thing he should do.
