Doctors and health care experts warn Canadians not only to deal with themselves, but also to check other people who could be vulnerable As large parts of Center in Canada Facing a stifling heat wave.
The meteorologist of the world news Anthony Farnell says that a great crest or a heat dome build on the Ohio valley in the United States and will develop in southeast Canada by the end of the weekend.
Temperatures should reach the bottom in mid-30 years C and humidx could make it feel much higher, with wet readings potentially in the mid-1940s.
When the heat reaches these levels, the body must work harder to keep cool.
“The hypothalamus acts like the thermostat and sends signals to the heart to start beating faster, sends signals to our body to breathe a little more quickly and it helps the blood in the ends so that we can dissipate the Heat by a radiant heat loss,” said Dr Samantha Green, a family doctor at Unity Health Toronto with expertise in climate change and health.
“He also sends signals so that we can refresh ourselves by cooling by evaporation by perspiration.”
What does extreme heat do to your body?
Prolonged exposure to heat can have an impact on the human body in various ways.
One of the most common is heat exhaustionwho can lead to heat stroke.
The exhaustion of heat is characterized by headache, dizzy, extreme thirst, heavy perspiration, muscle cramps and nausea and vomiting, according to Health Canada, and people are invited to move immediately in a cool place and to drink water if you feel these symptoms.
If it is not treated, this exhaustion can become a heat stroke, which is defined by the drug Johns Hopkins as the body overwhelmed by excessive heat.
Those who suffer from a heat stroke often have an internal temperature of 40 C or more, hot and dry skin, confusion and nausea, and this can lead to worse conditions, including crises, coma and even death.
While people will have an eye on temperature, studies show that people should also be aware of the “Damp bulb” temperature – When humidity and air temperatures are high, it may be more difficult to lose heat and keep you cool.
A 2010 study revealed that a 35 C wet bulb temperature that lasts more than six hours could cause serious health or even death impacts.
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A study of the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2022 revealed that at 100% humidity, the threshold could be as low as 31 ° C, while at 38 C, only 60% humidity could be too much for the body.
If you suffer from a heat stroke or if you notice someone with similar symptoms, go to a nice place to rest and call 911, because it is a deadly medical emergency.
“If you do not feel good about heat, consult a doctor or call 911. Do not be afraid to ask for help,” said Caroline Metz, director general of climate resilience and health at the Intact Center on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo.
Vulnerable populations, such as young people and the elderly or people suffering from chronic diseases, may have more trouble beating the heat.
Nemours The health of children in the United States notes that the children’s body is still developing and can sweat at a lower rate than adults and start to sweat at higher temperature, which exerts them more at risk of heat-related disease.
The elderly are faced with higher risks because they may have trouble accessing fresh spaces due to mobility or transport challenges, and those who live alone can be more vulnerable accordingly, according to BC Interior Health.
The elderly, as well as other Canadians, can also have chronic underlying health problems or take medication that could interfere with the body’s ability to stay cool.
American centers for the control and prevention of diseases note that those who suffer from these conditions may be less likely to respond to temperature changes and that people with heart disease, mental illness and obesity have a higher risk of heat -related disease.
“This is also why people with chronic health problems risk more heat exhaustion, heat stroke, where the natural cooling mechanisms of the body decompose and the central body temperature exceeds 40 degrees,” said Green.
“This is where we end up with massive inflammation and a failure of the organs in the body.”
People taking chronic drugs can also be affected. Green said beta-blockers, for example, prevent the heart from beating in response to heat faster and preventing the body from being able to cool.
It is not only health or age problems that can pose vulnerabilities.
“Anyone who works outside or people who experience roaming, they are more exposed to heat and it is a group or a population more at risk,” said Metz.
How to protect yourself and protect others
Metz notes that during heat waves, it is important for people to pay attention to others and check the neighbors because those who live alone or socially isolated can also be vulnerable to heat.
A British Columbia Coroner report after the 2023 heat dome noted that 98% of the 619 deaths identified as heat has occurred inside, with 56% of those who died alive.
“It has been shown that social cohesion or social connectivity is a very important factor for resilience and health during heat waves,” said Metz.
“In fact, in certain cultures where there are multigenerational families who live together, it is simply natural for people to worry about others … so that they do not often live the same type of situation that we could have here in North America, where we have a generation living in a house.
“It has been shown that the ability to reach out, to call someone or to stop greatly supports health and well-being for isolated people.”
She added that older adults and those who live alone should reach out to other people to let them know that they are alone and are open to ensuring that someone checks them during extreme time.
While a heat wave enters Ontario later this weekend, Metz said that people should stay in the coolest part of their house if possible or go to a community cooling center, wear clearer clothes if you have to go out, keep your doors and windows closed during the hottest games of the day and deactivate the items that can produce additional heat in your home.
“If you need to go out, you want to do it during the games of the day that are the coolest,” she suggested, noting that it means early mornings and late evenings.