The 10 health consequences of oppressive heat for more than 15 consecutive days

The ace extreme temperatures in the city of Buenos Aires, its surroundings and much of the country, they do not yield. While keeping the Red alert and rains are expected in the metropolitan area for tonight, today are the 16 consecutive days of oppressive heat where the thermometer marks records and, in some regions, the highest temperatures for more than 100 years have been recorded with thermals exceeding 40°C.

This great heat wave it can have a mild to high impact on everyone’s health. This occurs especially in risk groups (boys and girls, adults over 65 with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and obesity).

The effects range from dehydration, heat stroke or complications to increased mortality.

In general, heatstroke occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures or intense physical exertion at high temperatures. As their name suggests, they can arrive without warning, occurring with such speed and intensity which can even cause death even in healthy people.

He Ministry of Health of the City of Buenos Aires has confirmed GlobeLiveMedia A few days ago there was an increase in 15% in medical consultations associated with the high temperatures of the past two weeks. “Most patients present with fatigue and/or weakness as well as dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision, among some of the most common symptoms recorded among guards at public hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires,” they said. they stated. the Buenos Aires Health Portfolio.

The doctor Ramiro Herediaclinical doctor of the seventh chair of internal medicine of the Clinics Hospitalhad underlined GlobeLiveMedia“Classically, we have described heat-related illnesses in the elderly; Small children; pregnant; people with chronic illnesses; people who use certain drugs and drugs of abuse; in athletes without diseases, but subjected to a great physical load at extreme temperatures, such as during a marathon. Today we know that the heat affects everyone”.

“Heat stroke is a disorder in which heat builds up in the body and for various reasons the body is unable to eliminate it,” he described in GlobeLiveMedia the doctor Stella Maris Cuevas (MN 81701), otolaryngologist and allergist. Heat stroke requires treatment emergency If left untreated, it can quickly damage brain, heart, kidney and muscle function. Diagnosis is defined by elevated body temperature (usually, but not always, over 40°C) and multi-organ dysfunction which, if not treated promptly and adequately, can be fatal.

The bone symptoms frequent signs of possible heatstroke and may have 10 negative consequences in the body are:

1- Hyperthermia (increased body temperature above 39°C)

2- Altered consciousness, dizziness, buzzing and fainting

3- Feeling of lethargy, exhaustion, asthenia, fatigue and/or lack of appetite

4- Nausea and vomiting

5- Excessive sweating

6- Feeling of suffocation, dehydration and dry skin

7- Dry eye syndrome

8- Headaches or stomach aches

9- Muscle cramps, pain or spasms in the abdomen, arms or legs

10- Skin rashes and skin irritations due to excessive sweating

If the person suffers from any of these symptoms, it is important:

– Move the affected person to the shade, in a cool and calm place.

-Hold him hold his head a little high, and try to cool him down by wetting his clothes, applying ice to his head.

-Give him cool or lightly salted water to drink.

– Seek medical help.

He National Ministry of Health issued a series of recommendations in view of the heat wave in the country. For this reason, he recommended special attention to the elderly, babies, boys and girls, pregnant and breastfeeding people, people with chronic illness or overweight, people exposed to heat in their environment work, those who live on the streets and those who consider that they may be more exposed due to the impact of the heat wave.

Recommendations for avoiding heat stroke when people are at home, at work or in closed places are: stay hydrated, drink water more frequently (even if you are not thirsty), and always try to consume drinking water, avoid drinks containing too much caffeine or sugar, very cold or very hot. It is also advisable to incorporate fruits and vegetables in the diet and to avoid heavy meals and intense physical activities.

For health care on public roads, it is suggested to avoid direct sun exposure during the hottest hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), especially babies, little girls and little boys. Also, it’s important to use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and drink clean water more often (even if you’re not thirsty).

In babies, it is important to ensure that the skin is not severely irritated by sweat on the neck, chest, armpits, elbow creases and diaper area.

What to do with food and water:

– Store foods that may spoil due to heat in the refrigerator. Check the temperature and check that the refrigerator is working properly.

– Throw away any food that has lost the cold chain. Observe its smell, color or texture. If they are abnormal, discard them.

-Store foods that may be out of the refrigerator in clean, cool places and away from openings, surfaces and/or heat sources.

– Throw away perishable foods (including meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that have been out of the fridge for 2 hours or more. Also throw away any canned food with opened, damaged or swollen packages.

– Always consume drinking water and store it properly packaged (in clean, closed bottles or barrels) in the refrigerator, in clean places and away from heat sources.

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