How Do Heatwaves Affect the Human Body?

Specialists in emergency medicine and public health have identified five main pathways that can directly impact the body’s vital functions during severe heatwaves.

The first pathway involves increased strain on the heart muscle. The circulatory system is forced to pump larger volumes of blood toward the skin’s surface to cool the body, which raises the heart rate and consumes cardiac energy. This condition worsens in individuals with pre-existing heart diseases or hypertension, turning heat from a mere nuisance into a direct trigger for acute complications. The second pathway relates to the imbalance of fluids and electrolytes. The body loses significant amounts of sodium and potassium through profuse sweating, leading to painful muscle cramps and disruptions in nerve signal transmission.

Other effects include a temporary decline in cognitive functions, as revealed by recent medical reports, due to the brain’s exposure to high temperatures. This results in reduced concentration and slower decision-making, alongside increased irritability and impulsivity. Additionally, sleep patterns are disrupted during hot nights; the reduced quality of deep sleep leads to chronic fatigue, weakened immunity, and prolonged recovery times. There is also a noticeable rise in skin infections caused by blocked sweat glands and direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Experts emphasize that preventing these effects requires adherence to practical measures, starting with avoiding direct sun exposure during peak hours, maintaining hydration by drinking water and mineral-rich fluids, and wearing light-colored cotton clothing that allows the skin to breathe. Recommendations also stress the need to monitor the elderly and children, as they are the most vulnerable groups to extreme temperature fluctuations. There is a pressing need to strengthen community early warning systems and provide public cooling centers in densely populated cities, thereby helping to reduce heat-related injury rates.