This means that temperatures that were once unlikely or rare will not only continue to occur, but they will even rise, setting new records for intensity and duration, with incalculable cost in human lives and enormous economic, political and social impact.

This condition creates the need for two kinds of actions: individual action in the direction of (self) protection from the heat and collective action in the direction of addressing the cause of the climate crisis.

However, “the first and most important thing is to stay unharmed by high temperatures and healthy. And that means knowing what and how to protect ourselves” says Mr. Ilias Moutsios MD Specialist Pathologist, Director of Pathology Clinic Metropolitan Hospital.

What happens to the body during the heat?

“The body naturally sweats, thus maintaining its temperature within normal limits. Because sweat, which is essentially water, as it evaporates, removes heat from the body. When for any reason sweating decreases and/or increases, then the problems begin.

When and to whom does this happen? It happens to everyone when the outside temperature is high and the relative humidity is also high, because then the body is unable to expel heat (so it feels the temperature is higher than it really is). It also happens to: people who do not hydrate sufficiently, people under 4 and over 65, people who exercise vigorously, who consume a lot of alcohol, who take certain drugs such as diuretics, tranquilizers, antihypertensives, people with diseases that affect the ability to sweat (coronary disease, lung diseases, liver diseases, thyroid diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity)” answers the doctor.

What exactly is going on?

“First comes hyperthermia, that is, the rise in body temperature (which we may not notice without measuring it or perceive it as a fever, even though it is not related to it). When this rise exceeds 37.3° C, gradually up to 40° C discomfort and problems appear such as:

• Muscle cramps in the feet, calves, thighs and arms due to electrolyte loss
• Heat exhaustion, a condition that includes cramps, muscle weakness, fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, pale skin and excessive sweating
• Skin irritation
• Heat stress, a condition that occurs in people who work in hot conditions (construction workers, firefighters, traffic police).

When the rise in body temperature exceeds 40°C, then we are talking about heat stroke, a more serious condition that causes the collapse of the brain and other organs and is life-threatening,” Mr. Moutsios points out.

Symptoms of heatstroke

The symptoms of heatstroke can resemble those of a heart attack or stroke.
“The first symptom is usually cramps. In addition to cramps, dizziness, nausea, confusion, headache, vomiting may occur.
Delirium, mental confusion, convulsions, and sometimes loss of consciousness may occur.
The skin is hot, red and dry. The body temperature reaches 41° C, breathing is fast, while the pulse gradually weakens.
In severe heatstroke, the patient experiences massive muscle destruction, renal and respiratory failure, resulting in pulmonary edema. Cardiac arrhythmias occur, as well as blood coagulation disorders, while encephalopathy can be observed, which can lead to coma. Under these conditions, death is very likely (25% of sufferers die).

What do we do in case of heatstroke?

Call for medical help immediately, as treatment for heatstroke is only hospital-based. Until help arrives we try to reduce the temperature of the sick person by moving him to a shady place, dousing him with warm water, putting him in the shower or giving him a bath, at the same time monitoring his body temperature. We also place cold pads (compresses, ice packs) on the groin and armpits, cool with the help of a fan or a sponge with cold water. If we manage to “drop” the patient’s temperature while we wait for medical help (ideally it should drop below 38.3° C) the situation is no longer so alarming,” emphasizes the expert pathologist.

Precautionary measures

“In heat stroke, too, the ‘prevention is better’ rule, which includes a series of simple precautionary measures, which should be applied meticulously by everyone, and more so by the people who belong to the vulnerable groups mentioned above. These are the following:

1. Avoid vigorous outdoor activities when relative humidity is high, even for heat-adapted individuals
2. Taking plenty of fluids (ideally water, but also iced tea, fruit juices, sugar-free soft drinks)
3. Avoiding drinking alcohol in any form (even beer)
4. Light clothes (“summer” fabrics – bright colors), sun cream, hat, sunglasses, staying in a shady place, using a fan and air conditioning, avoiding unnecessary movements and long stays in non-air conditioned spaces
5. Cold shower or bath as often as possible
6. We look out for those around us and ask them to do the same.
7. We do not leave children or animals in the car, even if we are away for a while
8. We are informed about the progress of the heat wave
9. We stay as much as possible in an air-conditioned space.

What else happens to the body in the heat?

Various studies have repeatedly shown that heat leads to a 10-13% reduction in mental functions. This fact increases the risk of misjudgments, wrong decisions, occupational injuries or disasters and should always be taken into account. Also, other studies show that heat is associated with a higher risk of kidney problems, skin infections, premature birth and increased aggression,” concludes Mr. Moutsios.