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Fever affects health in many ways.
Heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, headaches, tremors, and thirst, can affect anyone and is usually less severe and cools within 30 minutes.
A more serious version is heat stroke, where the core temperature of the body exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an emergency disease and can lead to long-term organ damage and death. Symptoms include rapid breathing, confusion or seizures, and nausea.
Who is at risk
Some are more vulnerable, such as toddlers, the elderly, homeless people, those who have to continue their activities, and those who are highly exposed.
Dangerous U.S. heat continues until a storm hits the plains of the Mid-Atlantic coast
Existing conditions such as respiratory, cardiovascular, and diabetes also increase the risk and can be exacerbated by fever.
Shakoor Hajat, an environmental epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said:
Globally, a little less than 500,000 deaths per year are estimated to be due to excessive heat, according to a study in last year’s lancet, but data from many low-income countries are lacking. Much more people die from the cold, which is expected to change, researchers said.
Less noticeable risk
The World Meteorological Organization warned last week that air pollution would also increase during the heat wave, adversely affecting health.
Fever can also lead to low birth weight and preterm birth in pregnant women and babies, many studies have shown.
There is no obvious risk. Lawrence Wayne Wright, an environmental lecturer at Oxford University, said suicide rate and mental health issues often rise during the heat wave.
Scientists have stated that there is still no evidence of effects on COVID-19 or long-term COVID patients.
Timing issues
Experts say more deaths occur in the early summer when people’s bodies haven’t had the opportunity to adapt.
Location is also important. In places unfamiliar with such heat, including parts of Europe, people are at higher risk.
Western Europe devastated by wildfires reportedly killing hundreds of people in heat waves
However, there are limits and people around the world, especially those who have to continue their physical work, are at risk of the extremely hot weather caused by climate change.
“Everywhere in the world we have data, people are at increased risk of death when exposed to high temperatures,” said Eunithrow, a climate scientist at the University of Bristol in the western United Kingdom.
What you can do
Many European public health agencies have given advice on keeping you cool, including avoiding exercise and hydrating as much as possible.
Heat stroke is an emergency disease and requires immediate medical attention.
They also recommend checking in to the vulnerable. The 2003 European heat wave is believed to have killed more than 20,000 people, many of whom were old and isolated.