Urgent announcement in view of Heat that will hit the Greek territory in the next 24 hours The NRC’s Risk and Crisis Management Committee issued on Sunday.

The announcement lists the impact on the human body, while proposing preventive ways of dealing with, especially for vulnerable groups.

More specifically the announcement of Chief:

In recent years, climate change has exacerbated extreme heat phenomena, with two characteristic manifestations standing out: prolonged heatwave with unusually high temperatures and the heat dome in which constant high pressures are trapped in the air, hot.

These situations not only increase environmental temperature to a critical degree, but also maintain thermal stress for days or even weeks, with significant consequences for public health worldwide. Continuous exposure to high temperatures causes multi -systemic disorders, increasing morbidity and mortality, especially among vulnerable populations.

Pathophysiology

When the human body is exposed to extreme thermal loads for a long time, normal equilibrium (homeostasis) mechanisms begin to malfunction or inadequate. Basic disorders include.

Inadequate elimination – heat dispersion: When the body is unable to effectively eliminate heat – due to reduced sweating or vasodilation – body temperature increases dangerously, leading to hyperthermia.
Electrolyte disorders: Dehydration from increased fluid loss disrupts concentrations of basic electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and calcium. This imbalance directly affects the function of the heart and muscles and overall neuromuscular function.
Oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction: hyperthermia causes cellular damage, activation of inflammatory mechanisms and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (eg IL-6, TNF-A) with a picture of systemic inflammation.
Reduced vital organs blood: heat stress can cause blood pressure drop, fluid retention and microcirculation disorders. Thus, the supply of oxygen to sensitive organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys is limited, leading to ischemic damage.

Clinical events

Thermal stress can be manifested in a variety of ways, depending on the intensity, duration of exposure and vulnerability. From mild discomfort to life -threatening situations, clinical images include:

Thermal exhaustion: This is an early and frequent manifestation, characterized by severe fatigue, dizziness, tachycardia, muscle cramps, increased sweating. The person has a general weakness and often a feeling of fainting.
Heating: The most severe form of thermal stress. It is an emergency emergency medical condition and manifests with high fever (usually over 40 ° C), neurological disorders such as confusion, lethargy or convulsions, and the absence of sweating is characteristic. If not treated immediately, it can evolve into polyorganic deficiency.
Determining chronic diseases: cardiovascular events (such as acute myocardial infarction), respiratory seizures (asthma, COPD), as well as kidney dysfunction, are significantly worsening under conditions of dehydration and electrolytic disorders.
Hepatic and neurological damage: In severe cases, hyperthermia can lead to tissue liver necrosis and severe brain dysfunction (encephalopathy), with loss of consciousness or even coma.

Vulnerable population groups

Some categories of the population are particularly vulnerable to the effects of thermal stress, either due to normal restrictions or due to pathological conditions that reduce the body’s ability to adapt to heat. Such population groups are:

Elderly: They are at increased risk, as they have reduced thermoregulatory capacity, often suffering from chronic conditions, and are likely to have limited fluid intake and a reduced thirst.
Infants and infants: The temperature regulation mechanisms have not yet been fully grown, which makes them particularly vulnerable to high temperature conditions.
People with chronic diseases: heart patients, kidney patients, patients with chronic respiratory or neurological problems are more likely to develop complications, as thermal stress destabilizes their already fragile homeostasis.
People with Psychiatric Diseases: In addition to the difficulties in perception of risk or self -care, many of the pharmaceutical regimens they receive (such as antipsychotics) affect the thermoregulation of the body.
Outdoors and athletes: Increased physical activity with increased metabolic heat production combined with sun exposure and high temperatures significantly increases thermal burden, resulting in the highest risk of dehydration and thermal exhaustion.

Prevention and treatment

Prevention of thermal stress begins with early recognition of risks and adopting practical health measures, especially in times of high thermal load. Early intervention saves lives and significantly reduces complications.

Adequate hydration: Systematic fluid intake – even without a feeling of thirst – is a key preventive measure. It is advisable to avoid alcoholic and caffeine drinks, which have a diuretic effect and intensify dehydration.
Adaptation of Environmental Conditions: Staying in shady or air -conditioned points, avoiding activities during the warmest hours of the day, and the use of cool, light clothing contributes substantially to the body’s discharge from the heat.
Medical Monitoring: Vulnerable groups should be monitored systematically, especially on heat days. Immediate recognition of symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness or confusion allows timely intervention before deteriorating condition and the appearance of thermal exhaustion or heat stroke symptoms
Treatment of heat stroke: Heat stroke is an urgent condition that requires immediate action. Priority is to rapidly decrease in body temperature through natural cooling methods (cold patches, immersion in cool water, fans use). At the same time, isotonic fluid hydration and correction of electrolyte disorders is necessary. If necessary, support for vital functions in a hospital environment is applied.

Conclusion

The increasing frequency and duration of fuels, as well as thermal dome, are now a crucial issue of public health. The deeper understanding of the pathophysiology and the clinical picture of thermal stress is essential, not only for early diagnosis and treatment of cases, but also for the prevention of serious complications in vulnerable populations.

Preventive measures and timely medical intervention are key pillars in reducing the consequences of these phenomena.

The Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is calling for all health professionals, government agencies and the wider society to enhance information, education and cross -sectional cooperation. Only through coordinated and holistic actions can we ensure the protection of public health against a reality that is evolving with increasing intensity.