What does hot weather do to the body?
Summary
Hot weather affects the body by causing blood vessels to open and sweat to increase, which lowers blood pressure and makes the heart work harder. This can lead to heat exhaustion with symptoms like dizziness and nausea, especially in vulnerable people such as the elderly, babies, and those with health conditions.Key Facts
- Hot weather causes blood vessels to open, lowering blood pressure and increasing heart effort.
- Sweating leads to loss of fluids and salts, changing the body's balance.
- Heat exhaustion symptoms include dizziness, nausea, fainting, muscle cramps, headaches, heavy sweating, and tiredness.
- If untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which is a medical emergency.
- The body tries to keep a core temperature of about 37°C even in hot weather.
- Vulnerable groups include older adults, babies, young children, people with heart disease or diabetes, and those with brain illnesses like dementia.
- Safety tips include staying indoors in cool areas, drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding sun at peak hours, using sunscreen and hats, and avoiding exercise in extreme heat.
- If someone shows signs of heat exhaustion, move them to a cool place, make them lie down, give water, and cool their skin; seek emergency help if no improvement in 30 minutes.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
