Lack of care in heat can lead to death, warn experts

Heat waves, increasingly common and intense, can literally kill people, warn doctors heard by the leaf.

Climate change, which is already a reality, can contribute to the development of health problems, in some cases fatal, due to high temperatures, combined with risky behaviors, such as not drinking water regularly.

A multidisciplinary study published in the journal Nature Climate Change in May 2021 indicates that 37% of the 29 million heat-related deaths recorded in 43 countries between 1991 and 2018 may be linked to climate change caused by human action, such as burning. of fossil fuels.

The work is signed by 69 researchers, including scientists from Brazil.

Doctor Natan Chehter, a member of the Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology, explains that there is no exact temperature to define a heat that poses health risks. Each body, according to the expert, reacts differently to the environment.

However, it is known that some groups such as the elderly, obese, very thin people and children can be more fragile at high temperatures.

“The elderly, for example, due to the aging mechanism itself, are less sensitive to feeling thirsty”, highlights the geriatrician, who also works at the Beneficência Portuguesa hospital.

Therefore, he adds, the elderly can become more easily dehydrated, especially on days of extreme heat.

To maintain the internal temperature between 34ºC and 36ºC, the body, on hot days, uses perspiration as a resource, among others. If the person is already dehydrated, the condition worsens, which can cause kidney and heart problems and eventual accidents resulting from fainting.

“The elderly are in a risk group, as they are more victims of dehydration, as they cannot compensate for what the body does naturally. [falta de líquidos], the body starts to have a mechanism to try to preserve energy, which can result in mental confusion and neurological changes”, says the doctor.

In extreme cases, he adds, there can be multiple organ failure, leading to death — which can also occur in eventual falls, after fainting caused by dehydration.

As a preventive measure, Chehter indicates the constant intake of water and also foods rich in liquid, such as watermelon and melon.

Also, it’s important to pay attention to symptoms such as dry mouth and dark-colored urine, as this can be a sign of dehydration. If you feel a lot of fatigue and drowsiness, go to a hospital, advise your doctor.

pressure drop

Paulo Camiz, professor at the USP School of Medicine and Hospital das Clínicas, explains that one of the effects caused by high temperatures is the drop in blood pressure.

Especially women and people with low weight or low lean mass (muscles), because, in general, they already have lower blood pressure, can be part of the risk groups on days of high temperatures.

People who use medication to control blood pressure also need to be vigilant on days of unusually hot weather. “If the pressure drops, you need to adjust the dose of medicine to the new condition, resulting from the heat”, says the professor.

This occurs, according to cardiologist João Vicente da Silveira, because blood pressure drugs, in general, contribute to its fall. This condition, combined with eventual dehydration, “can be catastrophic”, says the doctor, who works at the Sírio-Libanês hospital.

As a preventive measure, experts advise people to avoid going out in hotter periods during the day. “It seems obvious, but if there’s no other way, put on fresh clothes, a hat, and stay hydrated,” Camiz said.

The secret is to stay hydrated

Drinking water regularly may seem like a simple habit, but, according to Silveira, it is something that many patients neglect.

“Today [quarta-feira] even saw it. People don’t drink water. There they dehydrate. They lose potassium, magnesium and sodium. This increases dehydration. The person becomes drowsy, dizzy, falls, syncope, chest pain, headache, irritability may occur. Then he wants to take a pill, but the person needs to drink water, then he gets better”, he reports.

For Silveira, many people do not hydrate properly for physical and even behavioral reasons. Women, for example, report that, to avoid going to dirty bathrooms or where they feel uncomfortable, they stop drinking water.

“There are also many young people who, because they are on the run, end up not hydrating properly, resulting in dehydration”, he adds.

HEAT EFFECTS ON THE BODY

• Greater and faster loss of liquid
• Dehydration
• kidney problems
• drop in blood pressure
• Dizziness
• fainting
• Fall and possible trauma
• Death by accident or complications from dehydration

TIPS

• Drink water regularly
• Consume water-rich fruits and vegetables
• Avoid going out in periods of stronger sun
• If you need to move at these times, protect yourself with hats and wear light clothing.
• If you notice any abnormality, see a doctor.

_{Sources: Doctors Paulo Camiz (professor at USP), Natan Chehter (Hospital Beneficência Portuguesa) and João Vicente da Silveira (Hospital Sírio Libanês)}