In recent years, the steady rise in temperatures during the summer has become a growing concern. The year 2022 was a particularly hot year, marked by a series of critical alarm related to extreme heat, such as devastating fires and a drought that put a strain on farmers.
Unfortunately, according to forecasts, this year will not be any different. And as if this were not enough, the future outlook is not at all positive. Experts predict a further rise in temperatures, accompanied by an increase in environmental disasters, which will have negative consequences on the lives of many people.
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Record temperatures and global consequences
This year’s summer has also officially begun, and meteorologists have already warned us about the risks of hot weather.
In recent days, alarms have been coming from different parts of the world due to record high temperatures. In northern China, the capital Beijing reached 41.8 degrees. Thus exceeding the 40-degree mark for the first time since 2014. Experts pointed out that the rise in temperatures is mainly related to the use of fossil fuels.
Similarly, Mexico experienced an impressive heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. This has prompted the government to suspend classes in public schools to protect children until the end of the school year on 10 July.
The situation requires global attention and targeted action to deal with the consequences of global warming.
More and more extreme summers in the future
What is most worrying is the thought that we will have to get used to more and more extreme situations in the future. Although summer is a popular season, the record temperatures of recent years do not allow us to enjoy it to the full, considering the dangers to the environment and our health.
Every year, experts, meteorologists and physicians share warnings and provide helpful hints on how to protect ourselves from excessive heat, which we should all rely on. Exposure to particularly high temperatures may cause ailments that should by no means be underestimated. Besides dizziness and fainting, which are common during this period, there is a risk of encountering more serious problems.
Heat can cause various discomforts. Dehydration is the most obvious symptom, characterised by dry skin and mucous membranes, thirst and a feeling of tiredness, accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure. Other symptoms include palpitations and dizziness, which can cause anxiety.
Health risks associated with high temperatures
High temperatures can cause muscle cramps due to the loss of sodium, which is essential for the body’s water balance. But the risks do not stop there: sunstroke, characterised by the appearance of erythema on the skin. And congestion, caused by drinking ice-cold drinks when the body is too hot and manifested by chest pain, are also common.
Oedema may also occur, with a swelling of the body due to the accumulation of fluid, especially in the lower limbs, caused by vasodilation. Finally, one of the most serious disorders is heat stroke, which occurs when the body struggles to regulate body temperature and can have more or less intense manifestations.
The dangers of excessive exposure to the sun should not be underestimated. The most vulnerable are children, the elderly and those with pre-existing illnesses.
Read also: Climate change: what areas of the world are most vulnerable to extreme heat waves
