Watch out for hot weather!

Temperature records are reached every year, and the trend continued in 2023. But what are the effects of heat on our bodies?

As with many vital parameters, the internal 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥: this is the 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 principle. Thermal regulation occurs via two mechanisms aimed at 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭: 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. However, sweat evaporation is made more complicated by the increasingly humid climate.

The risks of an 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝟑𝟖°𝐂 are headaches, fainting, dizziness, and excessive sweating leading to 𝐝𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Above 40°C, we talk about heat stroke, which can trigger very worrying symptoms. In addition, the rise in night temperatures is also problematic because it prevents us from being able to rest without having to fight the heat. The recommended ambient temperature for a good quality sleep is 18 degrees. Thus, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩.

In these periods of high temperatures, a few simple reflexes can keep you healthy: drink water regularly to hydrate yourself, do not hesitate to cover your neck with a damp cloth, prefer cool places, stay indoors, and 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬. Also remember to 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 in your entourage!