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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Baseline temperature
- Human beings’ average temperature is around 8.6°F (37°C). Though it can range between 97°F (36.1°C) and 99°F (37.2°C).
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Fever
- Body temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever, which is a response from our immune system, usually to some form of infection or illness.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
So, what happens when it’s too hot?
- Our bodies have thermoregulation mechanisms, one of them being the process of sweating. But there are a few other ways our bodies try to keep us at a healthy temperature.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Human thermoregulation
- The very first thing that happens when it’s too hot is your brain starts firing messages to your sweat glands to increase sweat production.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Thermoregulation
- Then it’s all about pumping more blood to the skin, which is achieved by an increase in heart rate.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Organs
- By pumping more blood to the skin, organs such as the kidney, liver, and intestines will have less blood supply.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Impact on organs
- The impact of oxygen-rich blood being diverted away from vital organs to the skin may lead to organ failure as these become hypoxic (low levels of oxygen).
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Organ failure
- "When you have heatstroke, the body gets so hot it starts to denature proteins so [it] can't regulate your body temperature and therefore major organs can fail," said Mike Tipton, a professor from the University of Portsmouth.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Risk of heart attack
- "You're more likely to have a heart attack as your cardiovascular system has to try harder to perfuse blood to your tissues than when it's cool," added Tipton.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Why does the body try to get the skin warmer?
- It may sound counterproductive, but the body actually works to get the skin hotter than the outside temperature.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Heat transfer
- The goal is to create a heat transfer phenomenon called convection, which will consequently help move the heat away from you. This, however, can put extra strain on a weak heart.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Heat illness
- Excess heat can lead to different stages of heat illness, as follows (based on increasing severity): sunburn, fainting, exhaustion, and heatstroke.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
What happens when our thermoregulation system fails?
- This is when heatstroke occurs. When our body is unable to cool itself down, our internal temperature starts climbing up from our baseline to somewhere closer to 104°F (40°C) or 105°F (40.5°C).
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Heatstroke
- This rise of temperature then starts to affect the brain. This may feel like a dull headache at first, but things can get serious if brain tissue swells.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Brain
- Dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and even brain hemorrhage can occur as a result.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Gut
- We have a barrier in our gut called the tight junction, which keeps bacteria from entering our bloodstream. When our body reaches such extreme temperatures, it stops doing its job.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Gut
- This results in endotoxins being released into the bloodstream, which will likely trigger an inflammatory response from your immune system.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Lack of research
- Because most research is conducted on people who actually died of heatstrokes, as well as animals in labs, there is still a lot we don’t know about it.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
High-risk groups
- While extreme heat can certainly kill anyone, it is believed that babies and those over 65 are at greater risk.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Social background
- Those with lower incomes, who are more likely to live in apartments with no access to air conditioning, are also at greater risk.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- Fans are used around the globe to keep people cool, but, according to a study, they are not suitable for all conditions.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- The study did find that fans, when used in hot, humid conditions, were effective in cooling down body temperature and reducing cardiovascular strain.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- However, fans didn’t seem to have the same effect in dry heat conditions, where they were shown to actually have the opposite effect, increasing body temperature.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Dehydration
- Dehydration is also a fairly common cause of death when it comes to hyperthermia. We sweat more and blood thickens, increasing the risk of clotting.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Dehydration
- Dehydration affects our cognitive abilities, which means that the brain will have problems sending the right signals to the body.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- There are a few steps you can take to stay cool during extreme heat and minimize the risks. These include staying indoors (or heading to somewhere cool with air con, such as a mall).
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- Stay hydrated, minimize your exposure to sun rays, wear light, breathable clothing, avoid vigorous exercise, eat light foods, and have a tepid shower.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- And, of course, don’t forget to check on those who are at greater risk and keep informed about the weather forecast. Sources: (Sky) (Canada's National Observer) (Annals of Internal Medicine)
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Baseline temperature
- Human beings’ average temperature is around 8.6°F (37°C). Though it can range between 97°F (36.1°C) and 99°F (37.2°C).
© Shutterstock
1 / 29 Fotos
Fever
- Body temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) is considered a fever, which is a response from our immune system, usually to some form of infection or illness.
© Shutterstock
2 / 29 Fotos
So, what happens when it’s too hot?
- Our bodies have thermoregulation mechanisms, one of them being the process of sweating. But there are a few other ways our bodies try to keep us at a healthy temperature.
© Shutterstock
3 / 29 Fotos
Human thermoregulation
- The very first thing that happens when it’s too hot is your brain starts firing messages to your sweat glands to increase sweat production.
© Shutterstock
4 / 29 Fotos
Thermoregulation
- Then it’s all about pumping more blood to the skin, which is achieved by an increase in heart rate.
© Shutterstock
5 / 29 Fotos
Organs
- By pumping more blood to the skin, organs such as the kidney, liver, and intestines will have less blood supply.
© Shutterstock
6 / 29 Fotos
Impact on organs
- The impact of oxygen-rich blood being diverted away from vital organs to the skin may lead to organ failure as these become hypoxic (low levels of oxygen).
© Shutterstock
7 / 29 Fotos
Organ failure
- "When you have heatstroke, the body gets so hot it starts to denature proteins so [it] can't regulate your body temperature and therefore major organs can fail," said Mike Tipton, a professor from the University of Portsmouth.
© Shutterstock
8 / 29 Fotos
Risk of heart attack
- "You're more likely to have a heart attack as your cardiovascular system has to try harder to perfuse blood to your tissues than when it's cool," added Tipton.
© Shutterstock
9 / 29 Fotos
Why does the body try to get the skin warmer?
- It may sound counterproductive, but the body actually works to get the skin hotter than the outside temperature.
© Shutterstock
10 / 29 Fotos
Heat transfer
- The goal is to create a heat transfer phenomenon called convection, which will consequently help move the heat away from you. This, however, can put extra strain on a weak heart.
© Shutterstock
11 / 29 Fotos
Heat illness
- Excess heat can lead to different stages of heat illness, as follows (based on increasing severity): sunburn, fainting, exhaustion, and heatstroke.
© Shutterstock
12 / 29 Fotos
What happens when our thermoregulation system fails?
- This is when heatstroke occurs. When our body is unable to cool itself down, our internal temperature starts climbing up from our baseline to somewhere closer to 104°F (40°C) or 105°F (40.5°C).
© Shutterstock
13 / 29 Fotos
Heatstroke
- This rise of temperature then starts to affect the brain. This may feel like a dull headache at first, but things can get serious if brain tissue swells.
© Shutterstock
14 / 29 Fotos
Brain
- Dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and even brain hemorrhage can occur as a result.
© Shutterstock
15 / 29 Fotos
Gut
- We have a barrier in our gut called the tight junction, which keeps bacteria from entering our bloodstream. When our body reaches such extreme temperatures, it stops doing its job.
© Shutterstock
16 / 29 Fotos
Gut
- This results in endotoxins being released into the bloodstream, which will likely trigger an inflammatory response from your immune system.
© Shutterstock
17 / 29 Fotos
Lack of research
- Because most research is conducted on people who actually died of heatstrokes, as well as animals in labs, there is still a lot we don’t know about it.
© Shutterstock
18 / 29 Fotos
High-risk groups
- While extreme heat can certainly kill anyone, it is believed that babies and those over 65 are at greater risk.
© Shutterstock
19 / 29 Fotos
Social background
- Those with lower incomes, who are more likely to live in apartments with no access to air conditioning, are also at greater risk.
© Shutterstock
20 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- Fans are used around the globe to keep people cool, but, according to a study, they are not suitable for all conditions.
© Shutterstock
21 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- The study did find that fans, when used in hot, humid conditions, were effective in cooling down body temperature and reducing cardiovascular strain.
© Shutterstock
22 / 29 Fotos
Electric fans
- However, fans didn’t seem to have the same effect in dry heat conditions, where they were shown to actually have the opposite effect, increasing body temperature.
© Shutterstock
23 / 29 Fotos
Dehydration
- Dehydration is also a fairly common cause of death when it comes to hyperthermia. We sweat more and blood thickens, increasing the risk of clotting.
© Shutterstock
24 / 29 Fotos
Dehydration
- Dehydration affects our cognitive abilities, which means that the brain will have problems sending the right signals to the body.
© Shutterstock
25 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- There are a few steps you can take to stay cool during extreme heat and minimize the risks. These include staying indoors (or heading to somewhere cool with air con, such as a mall).
© Shutterstock
26 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- Stay hydrated, minimize your exposure to sun rays, wear light, breathable clothing, avoid vigorous exercise, eat light foods, and have a tepid shower.
© Shutterstock
27 / 29 Fotos
How to stay safe
- And, of course, don’t forget to check on those who are at greater risk and keep informed about the weather forecast. Sources: (Sky) (Canada's National Observer) (Annals of Internal Medicine)
© Shutterstock
28 / 29 Fotos
How people die from extreme heat
This is what can happen to your body
© Getty Images
The world is being blasted by extreme temperatures. From the US and Canada to Europe, people are struggling to keep cool, and wildfires are rampant. Record-breaking temperatures continue to cause havoc across the globe, and people keep dying as a consequence. But what actually happens to a person’s body under severe heat that can lead to death?
Click through and find out how people die from extreme heat.
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