Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns extreme heat can be dangerous to health

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: Across the Caribbean, countries are experiencing record temperatures that can affect us.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that climate change also affects human health by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events.

Increases in the overall temperature of the atmosphere and oceans associated with climate change cause changes in wind, moisture, and heat circulation patterns. These changes con tribute to shifts in extreme weather events, including extreme heat events.

Extreme heat events can be dangerous to health – even fatal.

According to the CDC, extreme heat events may result in increased hospital admissions for heat-related illness, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.

Extreme heat events can trigger a variety of heat stress conditions, such as heat stroke.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature.

Body temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body cannot cool down. This condition can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

During heat waves, residents are urged to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous outdoor exercise to protect yourself from adverse effects of extreme heat.

Epidemiologist, Dr. Marvin Manzanero noted that heat and particularly the current average temperatures represents an environmental and occupational hazard.

“Beyond the immediate effects higher temperatures have on us – dehyrdration, heat stroke risk – there are many factors that are influenced by our body’s response to heat. Added to this, is the mental stress that extreme heat brings about for the general population,” Dr. Manzanero said.

Dr. Manzanero says that as earth gets warmer, specific measure to improve housing, management of chronic diseases, adequate institutional care of the elderly and the vulnerable, will need to be developed to reduce health impacts which are expected to only increase.

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