Heat is harmful to the body. How does heat affect our health?

It's been a hot day in Moscow for the second week. Last Sunday, June 26, became the warmest day since the beginning of the year, at the same time the penultimate “orange” level of danger due to weather was declared in the city. From sweltering high temperatures and bright sunlight many are saved with the help of light clothing, ice cream and soft drinks. However, daytime walks around the city and trips to public transport become a real challenge. The Village learned from an oncologist, therapist and cosmetologist why the heat in the city is dangerous and how to cope with it without much loss.

Ilya Fomintsev

From an oncological point of view, the danger is not so much heat as direct radiation exposure to the skin. Increased insolation can provoke such an evil tumor as melanoma.

Tips for protection in hot weather simple: wear sunglasses, avoid direct action rays on the skin or cover the body as much as possible with a cloth. If this is not possible, use sunscreens. In case of a skin burn, you should consult a dermatologist to examine all pigmented nevi on the skin.

Yaroslav Ashikhmin

therapist

Prolonged exposure to the sun or even shade in hot weather can lead to heatstroke, or a variant called sunstroke. The most dangerous temperature at which heatstroke can develop is above 35 degrees above zero in the shade. For some people with chronic illnesses, being in such an environment for just a few hours is enough for them to develop symptoms of heat stroke.

It is important to be able to recognize heatstroke. Its main features are feeling unwell and an increase in body temperature above 37 degrees. If your temperature does not drop after being in the heat, it means you have suffered heatstroke. There are several simple rules how to prevent it. First of all, you need to drink enough fluid. I recommend to people who spend long time in the heat, drink as much as they need, and don't stop even after they start sweating profusely. Many people think that if they sweat a lot, it means they drink too much. This is wrong. If in order to remove a sufficient amount of heat, the body needs high level sweating, you should not disdain this - you need to agree with your needs and drink in sufficient quantities. The feeling of thirst will tell you exactly how much to drink.

In the heat, salt leaching is very dangerous, so it is best to drink mineral water. This can be medium-mineralized water, for example “Novoterskaya” or “Essentuki No. 4”. And for those who endure large physical activity, I would recommend drinking isotonic solutions. But it is better to give up sweet water, because sugar-containing drinks are harmful. They do not quench thirst well and are metabolically unsafe. If you like Coca-Cola or soda, choose the option with sweeteners. But the tea is very good. Turkmen and various Asian peoples drink hot tea in the heat because it can quench thirst much better than cold drinks.

Special attention People with chronic diseases should pay attention to themselves and their health in hot weather.
Against the backdrop of heat, blood vessels dilate in many people, and patients with hypertension may experience a slight decrease blood pressure. They go out into the street and start to lead more active image life, and this can play a cruel joke on them. It seems to them that they have “recovered”, so patients begin to cancel their appointments on their own medicines. But even a small dose adjustment without the participation of the attending physician can lead to a sharp jump in blood pressure. Therefore, if you have chronic diseases, in particular arterial hypertension, you should definitely contact your doctor and discuss with him the correction of the treatment regimen.

All cosmetologists agree that solar radiation serves key factor skin aging. Indeed, with the sun as bright as it is now, the skin ages much faster. Solar radiation serves as a key factor in the development of melanoma, which until recently was considered the queen of malignant tumors. Therefore, it is necessary to apply sunscreen to your skin. Even if you are just walking around the city, be sure to apply cream on yourself. When choosing it, be guided by the color of your skin, or better yet, consult your cosmetologist or dermatologist. I recommend that my patients use creams with SPF 30–50. They will completely protect the skin from premature aging. At the same time, a cream with a factor above 50 is a fraud. The highest existing SPF is 50.

It is also necessary to say that air conditioning also poses a danger in hot weather. Minimum safe temperature which should be installed indoors is 23 degrees. You shouldn’t set it lower, because the temperature difference when returning to a room from outside or vice versa can be very strong, and therefore the risk of developing an infectious disease increases.

Separately, I want to say about alcohol. I would like to warn people against excessive consumption of alcohol. If you know it's going to be a hot day, you should never drink alcohol in the morning - it's no secret that many people get hangovers. During hot weather, it is advisable not to drink alcohol at all. This can lead to severe vasodilation, sharp decline blood pressure and poor health, and is also fraught with serious complications for internal organs. Alcohol and beer should be replaced with other drinks like tomato juice and kvass. You can drink coffee: up to four cups a day is safe.

If you see that a person who has been in the heat for a long time is “hot” and feels unwell, he needs to have his temperature measured. If it exceeds 37 degrees, you should consult a doctor, and if it reaches 38 degrees, call ambulance. In severe cases, special cooling technology may be required. But you shouldn’t put people in a bath with ice: this way you won’t be able to properly cool a person, but will simply harm him.

Victoria Klishko

cosmetologist

Any sun is harmful to the skin, including Moscow sun. There is a very good expression: “You can’t undress beyond your skin.” And what does she feel under the blows of the scorching sun? It is the skin that is a powerful barrier to the sun's rays and takes the full force of their impact.

Simple works defense mechanism: the skin, trying to cool down, increases the work of the sebaceous and sweat glands. Thus, you and I begin to actively sweat and do not allow the body to overheat, and the oily sheen on the skin protects our upper layers from burns. In addition, the sun is the main factor in premature aging of the skin, its dehydration, increased sensitivity, and the appearance of age spots and skin neoplasms.

How can you protect yourself? Firstly, use a day cream with an SPF level of 30–50 every day, and don’t forget to smear it on your neck, décolleté and hands. During prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, you should apply the cream every two to three hours. When choosing skin care products for the summer, you should give preference to light textures - fluids, serums and cream lotions. By the way, remember about lips: the skin of the lips is very thin and under the influence of the sun often dries and cracks. So it is useful to use lipsticks and balms with SPF factor.

Don't neglect sunglasses. After all, ultraviolet radiation destroys collagen and elastin fibers, which leads to early appearance wrinkles around the eyes. The sun also provokes the appearance of rashes on the face, so I recommend that people with problem skin use special wipes for oily skin.
Also, the sun and air conditioning often cause an exacerbation of the herpes virus, so you should think about antiviral therapy. And finally, a few tips: don’t forget about vitamins, drink more fluids and moisturize your skin - everything is useful here, from strawberries and fresh cucumber to cosmetic masks.

Cover: Vasily Kuzmichenok / TASS

Summer is the time when you can finally take a break from work and everyday worries at sea or in the country. But along with the holiday season comes intense heat, which gives no rest, day or night. Those who live in the urban jungle especially suffer from high temperatures, where the hot asphalt makes it stuffy and the air temperature rises several degrees higher than in the countryside. Even 20 minutes of exposure to the scorching rays of the sun can result in severe burns.

How does extreme heat affect people?

High temperatures are a serious test for humans. When a street thermometer shows 30°C or more, changes occur in the body that have a detrimental effect on well-being and health:
. Sweat is produced more actively - sweating is necessary for a person to cool the body. But in extreme heat it becomes abundant. Sweat production increases 4-5 times. The same condition is observed when a person performs physical work, climbs the stairs and plays sports. Excessive sweating leads to disruption of water and salt balance. And as a result, the body becomes dehydrated. Due to lack of fluid, cells, brain and other organs suffer.

Elderly people, young children, hypertensive patients and heart patients, whose body does not control heat exchange, especially suffer from the summer heat.

The skin temperature rises - as a result of overheating of the integument, large heat loss occurs.
. Breathing and pulse quicken - when abnormal heat the person feels a lack of oxygen.
. Cerebral circulation is disrupted - due to high temperatures, less blood enters the brain than usual. And this is fraught with headaches, dizziness and even stroke.

It's also worth adding that abnormal temperatures put a person into a stressful state. He suffers from insomnia, sudden mood swings and fears. Often experiences anxiety, dissatisfaction and irritability. Now let’s look at what health problems extreme heat can cause.

Heatstroke and sunstroke are frequent “guests” of hot summers

High temperatures are favorable conditions for sunstroke or heatstroke. Such painful conditions have a negative impact on the human body.

The victim experiences the following unpleasant symptoms:
. body temperature rises to 39-40 °C;
. heart rate increases;
. headache;
. dizziness, nausea and vomiting appear;
. cold sweat appears;
. facial skin turns red;
. loss of strength occurs.

Sunstroke and heatstroke are insidious in that they often lead to convulsions and loss of consciousness. And in especially severe cases, they can result in coma and even death.

Despite general symptoms, solar and heat stroke are different from each other. Thus, a person receives the first condition as a result of prolonged exposure to sunlight on the unprotected surface of the head. In this case, sweating is disrupted, blood vessels dilate, and blood stagnates in the brain. As for heat stroke, it can occur in indoors with high air temperature and low humidity.
If you notice the first symptoms of sunstroke or heatstroke, you must act immediately. The first step is to take the patient or take him away from the sun or other source extreme heat to a cooler place. This could be in the shade or in a room with comfortable temperature, sufficient quantity oxygen and normal humidity levels. Then you should remove the victim from clothing to allow the skin to cool, and lay him down so that his legs are higher than his head. If the person is conscious, give him some water to drink. room temperature and apply a cold compress to his head. It could be a bottle with cold water or ice cubes. Next, provide the victim with complete rest. If he loses consciousness, call an ambulance.

Problems of the heart and blood vessels: from blood pressure to heart attack

Abnormal heat most often “hits” heart patients and hypertensive patients. At high air temperatures, additional stress falls on the heart and blood vessels. Hypertensive patients experience surges in blood pressure, and those who suffer from coronary heart disease experience angina attacks, which are accompanied by sharp pain in the chest area. It is also not uncommon for extreme heat to lead to heart attacks or even heart attacks.

Rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, a feeling of lack of air and tightness in the chest - these are the symptoms that people with cardiovascular diseases suffer in the summer heat.

How to protect yourself from serious consequences summer heat? Everything is very simple: you need to avoid being in the sun during its peak activity - from 12:00 to 16:00, wear light, loose and light clothes, preferably made of natural materials: linen, cotton or silk, and also do not forget about a hat. As for quenching your thirst, instead of coffee and carbonated drinks, give your preference ordinary water, green tea, compotes and fruit drinks.

Throat and lung problems in extreme heat

Abnormally high temperatures air in summer also harms those who suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases. The person feels an acute lack of oxygen. He's in literally this word is choking.

Also, often in the summer, children and adults suffer from colds, sore throats and pneumonia. This is due to the consumption of large quantities of cold drinks and ice cream, as well as being under air conditioning or in front of a draft. Sore throat is dangerous because if complicated, it can lead to disability, and pneumonia can lead to weakening of the entire body and even death.

To avoid such consequences, observe the following preventive measures:
. Don't sit directly under the air conditioner.
. Do not drink ice water in greedy sips. It is better to quench your thirst with cool water and small sips.
. Avoid drafts.
Awareness of the dangers of extreme heat in summer will allow you to take better care of your health and prevent serious consequences.

When the sun is mercilessly baking and there is not a hint of a breeze, it is quite possible to suffer from the heat, if not survive it. They can quite easily fall off their feet at this hot time. healthy people. What can we say about the rest! Nevertheless, it is possible and necessary to withstand the heat. Let’s look further at how to behave on hot days without harming your health.

Rules for everyone during the heat

Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and heat stroke. Avoid alcohol - it increases thirst and disrupts heat regulation. Do not overuse cold beer either - it, like other alcoholic drinks, can cause deterioration in your health.
Wear light clothes , linen or cotton (it is well ventilated), and always a hat.

Don't stay in the sun for more than an hour. During the sun's peak period—from 12 to 5 p.m.—stay in the shade or indoors. If you do not interrupt your sports activities, then in hot weather, exercise before 10 o’clock in the morning or after 7-8 o’clock in the evening.

Take warm baths or showers. Rubbing with cool water helps relieve headaches in hot weather. The same procedure normalizes blood pressure and relieves fatigue.
Pregnant women need to protect themselves from sunlight. You can’t relax, let alone sunbathe, on the beaches during this period! Shade, peace, minimal physical activity - this is what is recommended for expectant mothers.

Hypertension in the heat, drink in moderation

It is necessary to strictly observe the liquid regime, and to quench thirst, drink mineral water, warm, freshly brewed weak tea, preferably green. And under no circumstances use sweet carbonated water or industrially produced kvass!

Try to eat less during this period. Food should be light: fruits, vegetables, salads. A shower is required 2 times a day, and only warm. It is better not to refuse physical activity, since hypertensive patients are prone to obesity, but the exercise should be moderate and, of course, not under the scorching sun.

Serum is useful for asthmatics in hot weather

In the heat, the condition of people with bronchial asthma may worsen - they may develop signs of oxygen starvation: weakness, shortness of breath, a feeling of stuffiness. At this time, they should avoid excessive physical and psycho-emotional stress.

Pickles, smoked meats, fried and spicy foods are excluded from food. Instead of tea, it is good to drink warm herbal decoctions - for example, birch buds, plantain leaves, coltsfoot or nettle. Whey from yogurt is also useful.

Don't go for a walk at noon, children.

It must be remembered that in young children thermoregulation is imperfect and an increase in air temperature can cause their body temperature to rise. You can only walk in the morning and evening hours. Swimming of children in ponds is excluded if there is a large difference in air and water temperatures.

It is necessary to observe hygiene rules in the heat. In addition, when we drink a lot, gastric juice dilutes and the barrier to infections weakens. At the first sign of distress gastrointestinal tract Children can be given smecta, two tablets activated carbon, enzymes.

Heart attack survivors need potassium

For those who have had a heart attack, as well as for hypertensive patients, it is important to monitor the water load on the body. You need to check every day for swelling. If, say, a hole remains on the shin after pressing with a finger, you need to take a diuretic, preferably a salt-preserving one, for example veroshpiron.

During the hot period, you need to avoid physical activity and eat fruits containing potassium - apricots, dried apricots, raisins and parsley. Comfortable norm for the body atmospheric pressure- 750 mm Hg, air temperature - 16-18 degrees, humidity - 50%.

This is important!

Everyone needs to know the signs of the negative effects of heat on the body: fatigue, sweating, weakness, decreased performance, anxiety and even an aggressive state.

If a person next to you becomes ill, help him move into the shade and place a handkerchief soaked in cool water on his head. If possible, give the cotton wool a whiff ammonia. Call an ambulance.

Russian weather forecasters sadly state that the extreme heat has no intention of leaving the central and western regions Russia. At least until August, our thermometers will show 29-31 degrees during the day and at least 19-20 degrees at night. So, if you decide to save on a fan or air conditioner, thinking that it’s all about to end, it’s time to reconsider your financial plan.

Moreover, unlike purely everyday inconveniences, health problems are unlikely to be simply tolerated. Extreme heat is, first of all, a strain on the heart, and the longer the weather continues to show such “tropical” freaks, the more your “fiery engine” will suffer. There are several reasons for this:

Any body reacts to heat by dilating blood vessels and, consequently, blood pressure drops. In order to maintain normal blood flow, the heart has to work harder, almost to the limit of its capabilities.

In the heat, the body loses a lot of fluid and along with it mineral salts. Meanwhile, potassium and magnesium, for example, are necessary to maintain heart rhythm, and if the water-salt balance in the body is seriously disturbed, the human heart can simply stop.

Dehydration also causes blood to thicken. Coupled with the dilation of blood vessels, this significantly increases the risk of blood clots, and therefore all related problems. The risk of heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism, etc. increases.

Causes for concern

Our reaction cardiovascular system The heat mainly explains poor health, shortness of breath and constant fatigue. However, only relatively healthy people can escape with such “mild” consequences; But those who already have heart problems or conditions predisposing them - they may face at least an exacerbation of the disease, and at maximum a heart attack and all the consequences. And even if before problems you didn’t have a “main pump”, a number of factors combined with the vagaries of the weather can provoke trouble. According to the recommendations of the American Heart Association, there are 10 such factors.

1. Age. IN total number Of patients who died from certain heart diseases, 83% were people over 65. However, doctors say that in recent years the same heart attack has become considerably “younger”. Similar problems are increasingly common in men around 35-40; for women this threshold is slightly higher, but also gradually falls.

2. Gender In men, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) not only start earlier, but also end worse. In the structure of mortality from heart attacks, representatives of the stronger sex make up the majority - perhaps due to bad habits and reduced attention to their health.

Some doctors also associate this dependence with the influence of certain sex hormones on the body. This theory is confirmed by the fact that in women, the risk of heart attack increases markedly after menopause, that is, after serious hormonal changes. However, the superiority in sad statistics still belongs to the stronger sex.

3. Family history. Consider that you now have another reason to inquire about the health of your relatives. If either of them has cardiovascular disease, you are also at increased risk.

4. Race. This point probably should not cause concern among the majority of the population of our country. According to statistics, CVDs significantly more often affect people from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

5. Smoking. This bad habit negatively affects the composition of the blood, prevents its saturation with oxygen, increases cholesterol and provokes thrombosis. As a result, the risk of any problems with the cardiovascular system increases by 2-4 times, depending on the period of smoking and the presence of concomitant diseases.

6. Cholesterol levels.“Horror stories” about cholesterol plaques are now probably known to everyone. And it’s good: the more “bad cholesterol” in your blood, the greater the risk of blockage of blood vessels and, accordingly, a heart attack. In addition to the already mentioned smoking, physical inactivity (lack of physical activity) and unhealthy diet with a large number animal fats.

7. Blood pressure. All hypertensive patients are aware of the potential danger of their condition, but not everyone even suspects that they are hypertensive. If you've never been concerned about your blood pressure, now is the time to start thinking about it, because hypertension puts stress on the heart, thins and weakens blood vessels, and can cause heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

8. Sedentary lifestyle. Increases risk coronary disease heart, and also provokes other diseases that affect the state of the cardiovascular system. As studies by British cardiologists have shown, just 20 minutes of physical activity per day reduces the chances of having a heart attack by 25-30%.

9. Excess weight. Excess fat deposits in the waist and abdomen are especially dangerous. People with such a “load” are more prone to fatal CVD, even in the absence of other risk factors. Moreover, weight loss has a therapeutic effect: every centimeter lost from the waist reduces the chances of early death by 6-7%.

10. Diabetes. The most common cause of death for diabetics is certain problems with the heart or blood vessels (according to statistics, this is about 75% of cases).

If you find that you are at risk and fear for your health, follow a few simple safety rules in the heat:

Work less. All more or less serious physical activity should be postponed if possible. Don’t carry heavy bags, don’t take long walks in the heat and, of course, leave your garden beds alone. The latter, by the way, are the most dangerous: when you bend in half, trying to hill up some bush, the already weakened blood flow from your head drops - and you can lose consciousness right in the garden.

Be afraid of cold water. This applies to city reservoirs, ordinary showers, fountains, etc. etc. At sudden change temperatures extended blood vessels narrow; in fact, they spasm, and this can cause an attack of angina and even a heart attack.

Don't be in the sun for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. If you feel short of breath and rapid heartbeat, immediately hide in the shade or a cooled room.

Drink mineral water. It will help the body cool effectively through increased sweating and at the same time maintain normal water-salt balance in the body.

Don't overeat. Difficult-to-digest foods like meat and fatty baked goods increase the load on the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, circulatory system. It is better to eat more water-containing vegetables and fruits; watermelons, cabbage and cucumbers are especially good.

Have the warm days affected your well-being? It's time to find out how to alleviate your condition in the summer heat and what mistakes you should avoid so as not to get sick in the middle of summer.

Why do we feel bad

In the summer heat, the body loses moisture, and this negatively affects the functioning of internal organs, including the brain. This is why in the heat we may experience dizziness, irritability, depression and insomnia.

Those who suffer the most in the summer heat are those who are exposed to cardiovascular diseases, as well as pregnant women. Be attentive to children: their thermoregulation mechanism is still imperfect, and they may not sense the approach of heatstroke in time.

Attention! In hot weather, do not allow children or elderly people with chronic illnesses to go outside unaccompanied. If they feel bad, there should be someone nearby who will help.

Cosmetics and UV protection

Use a minimum of cosmetics, do not overload your skin with foundation; a suitable solution for summer makeup is BB cream.
Use products with SPF factors according to your skin type - this will protect you from negative influence sunlight.
Keep it in your purse thermal water: it will help you freshen up in the middle of a hot day, protect your skin from drying out and at the same time not disturb your makeup.
Clothing and physical activity
Do not wear synthetic or thick denim clothing. Give preference to light cotton and linen fabrics. Wear comfortable shoes made of fabric or genuine leather.
If you work outside, be sure to wear a cap to avoid heatstroke. Gardeners should not work in the scorching sun between 11 and 16 hours.
Avoid heavy physical activity. Summer sports should be moderate, swimming is best.

Caution when cooling

Be careful with fans and air conditioners: do not set the temperature too low.
If you have a bad heart or problems with blood vessels, it is not recommended to plunge into cold water, since their vessels may not be ready for sudden changes.
Take cool showers. Wiping with a damp towel can also be useful, especially for children.
In hot weather, always stay on the shady side of the street or green area, and if possible, choose a route close to water sources.
Drinking regime and nutrition
Constantly replenish your lost water: always have a bottle of cool (not ice-cold!) water with you. A low-mineralized one is better: it contains salts, which will help maintain the water-salt balance in order.
Remember that excessive fluid intake can put unnecessary strain on the kidneys as they begin to work beyond their capacity. The blood vessels and heart will also be damaged, and swelling will appear. Follow the golden mean: drink about 2 liters per day.
Include fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables in your diet. You shouldn’t give up meat (and other animal proteins), but don’t eat heavy fatty foods and don't overeat.
Prepare light soups (okroshka, beetroot soup). Eat small meals, at least five times a day.

Coolness in the house

These simple methods will help keep your apartment cool even on the hottest days.
1. Remove carpets and carpet runners from the mezzanine - it’s more pleasant to walk on a cool floor and it’s more convenient to do wet cleaning.
2. Cover the windows with thick curtains that will not let in sun rays. Curtains made of blackout fabric will cope best with this task. A mirror film glued to the windows will also protect you from the heat.
3. In the morning, before the sun starts to burn, close all the windows in the apartment. It is better to do this no later than 9-9.30, and it is advisable to ventilate the room at night. To avoid stuffiness, turn on a fan or air conditioner.
4. To reduce air heating, wrap the hot pipes of the heated towel rail with foil.
5. Do wet cleaning in the apartment more often. It is advisable to wipe the floor at least once a day, and the surface of furniture and household appliances– remove dust in a timely manner.
6. Place a bowl of cold water in the center of the room, and a fan next to it. When you turn on the device, you will be able to reduce the temperature by 2-3 degrees.
7. Can be placed in the corners of the apartment plastic bottles with ice water or ice - this will add coolness for a while.