Europe sizzles: Extreme heat, health risks, and cooling tips
Europe is warming faster than the global average. Summer began early and is likely to be the hottest on record, which increases the risk of heat strokes. But what does licking your wrists have to do with avoiding them?
4:48 PM EDT, June 24, 2024
This year, heat waves hit Europe earlier than ever before. Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and Italy have already faced extreme temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Many places recorded temperatures 18 degrees higher than the seasonal average. The last 11 months have been the warmest on record globally, and all indications are that the coming months will break these records.
Europe is warming faster than the global average
According to the latest data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the EU climate agency Copernicus (C3S), Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since 1991. Twenty-three out of the thirty most severe heat waves on the continent have occurred since 2000, five of them in the last three years. Both agencies warn that Europe must do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move away from fossil fuels.
Such high temperatures pose serious health risks. One of the direct threats is heat strokes. The premature summer has already claimed lives. This includes over 1,000 deaths among pilgrims to Mecca and several fatalities on the Greek islands, including the media-renowned English doctor Dr. Michael Mosley. A heat stroke occurs when the body temperature rises above the normal range of 97-99.5 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is a heat stroke?
Dr. Donald Grant, a general practitioner and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, spoke to the Daily Mail about heat strokes and how to avoid them: "Symptoms of heat stroke include high body temperature, altered behavior, nausea, rapid heart rate, and headache." Other symptoms include sweating, rapid heartbeat, and dark yellow urine resulting from dehydration.
Suppose we allow dehydration during heat waves within just five to ten minutes. In that case, the heat can deprive critical organs, including the brain, of blood, leading to confusion, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. After 15 minutes, heat stroke occurs, resulting in a "total loss of body functions." The outside temperature does not have to be extremely high for such a risk. Experts suggest taking precautions when the temperature exceeds 81 degrees Fahrenheit. When it goes above 88 degrees, the risk becomes high.
Excessive sweating strains the heart. It has to pump blood more challenging to carry heat from the body to the surface. When the body overheats, the ability to sweat decreases, and body temperature rises even faster. Lack of oxygen and heat can affect the heart muscle, potentially disrupting the heart's electrical system and causing an irregular heartbeat. In extreme cases, fluid can accumulate in the lungs, making breathing difficult and delivering sufficient oxygen.
How to avoid a heat stroke?
Dr. Grant explained: "Avoiding long periods of sun exposure and managing water intake is the most effective way to reduce the likelihood of experiencing this dangerous condition." Intense physical activity outdoors is also not recommended.
If you are outdoors, sunscreen and a bottle of water are essential. A light-colored hat will help reflect the sun's rays. On the hottest days, it is advisable to close curtains, avoid heat-generating appliances, and ensure air circulation through cross ventilation and fans. It may sound counterintuitive, but studies suggest not opening all windows to keep your home cool. It's worth opening them only if it creates a "draft" or the outside temperature is lower than the inside.
Instead of drinking alcohol, lick your wrists
Although heat and cold beer are a combination ingrained in the culture of many, it is essential to remember that alcohol is a diuretic, causing more frequent urination. The temperatures we are currently exposed to are higher than ever. Dr. Grant emphasized: "Hot weather combined with alcohol can increase the speed of dehydration exponentially; therefore, it’s crucial to manage water intake to avoid falling ill and missing out on the festival fun." If you drink alcohol, it is necessary to replenish fluids in your body simultaneously.
During heat waves, it is also worth... licking your wrists. This tactic is used by several animal kingdom creatures, including kangaroos and monkeys. Although it may sound unhygienic, licking your wrists also helps people "keep a cool head." Wrists contain pulse points where the pulse can be felt because blood vessels are close to the skin's surface. By licking our wrists, we use saliva to mimic the action of sweat, cooling the skin's surface. This slows blood flow and prevents the body from overheating. If licking your wrists doesn't appeal to you, spraying them with water can have a similar effect.
