How heat threatens health



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For a while, scientists from around the world have drawn attention to the impact of climate change on the environment.

In November, a report published by the British scientific journal The Lancet warned of the serious consequences of heat waves on human health.

The dossier, entitled Countdown Lancet: Monitoring progress in health and climate change (Countdown: health and climate change, parallel evolution), has been published every year since 2016.

Problems generated by rising temperatures, such as heat stress, heart failure and acute kidney damage due to dehydration.

It is also reported that last year, 157 million people worldwide were in a vulnerable heat wave situation, an increase of 18 million over 2016.

on average , each person was exposed to additional heat waves between 1 and 4 days between 2000 and 2017 compared to the 1986-2005 base.

These are problems that are also evident in Brazil with the proximity of summer, whose official start will be December 21 – although it seems to have already begun in many parts of the country, which are already suffering extreme heat.

After the start of the season, temperatures are expected to be even higher than those recorded in recent days.

According to Josefa Morgana Viturino de Almeida, chief meteorologist at the Weather Prediction and Analysis Center of the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), the station should be between 0.4 and 0.6 degrees more than the average of last summer. , with the exception of point areas, such as the extreme south of Brazil and the mountainous regions.

<img src = "https://media.metrolatam.com/2018/12/19/104852801gettyimages649087808-2c01e0fd697d6934ecb732d18795a298-1200×0.jpg" alt = "" All in all, the trend is to heat and to many rain. There is also a 75% to 80% chance of El Niño settlement (abnormal warming of the waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean) from December this year and early 2019 " , comments the expert

Discover below the main health problems related to high temperatures.

Thermal stress

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There are several ailments caused or aggravated by the weather Many of them, even, are cited in the Lancet document, such as heat stress (or heat stress).

As explained by Mayara Floss of the Brazilian Society of Family Medicine and Community (SBMFC), one of the Brazilian organizations that participated in the development of the report, the human body is struggling to adapt when it is exposed to high temperatures. changes for

"In this situation, the heat produced inside the body is transferred to the surface of the skin by the circulatory system and the internal tissue contact. For example, dilating vessels to increase blood flow and sweating to balance the temperature.The body can also lose water, minerals and become dehydrated, "he explains.

If the person remains exposed to the sun, the case tends to worsen to become sunstroke. "Our body can not reach 40 degrees. If this happens, the organs stop functioning, causing coma and even death, "adds the specialist, pointing out that the danger is greater for children, the elderly, pregnant women, workers in the area. Outdoors and People Already Having Health Problems, Such as Respiratory, Mental, Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease

The important thing to avoid heat stress and its aggravating factors is to stay well hydrated when ingestion of water and isotonic, avoid sun exposure between 10am and 4pm, avoid excessive alcohol and extreme exercise; Wear light and loose clothing and spend as much time as possible in cold environments.

Floss also recommends that you think more deeply about the planet: "People should plant trees, not deforest, change cars using public transport and by bike. o and make urban spaces greener. "

Mosquitoes vector of diseases

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Diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, zika and yellow fever, transmitted by vector mosquitoes , are another source of concern in the summer.

Just to get an idea, according to a report published in The Lancet Countdown the transmission capacity of the global dengue virus in 2016, taking into account that it is influenced by the Humidity, rainfall and temperature is the highest ever recorded: it increased by 9.1% for the Aedes aegypti and by 11.1% for the Aedes albopictus ] (wild type) compared to the previous year.

"Vector mosquitoes like warmth, the hotter they are, the better for them," says Enrique Barros, a family physician and CFMWS member. (19659002) Among the individual measures taken to get away from the diseases mentioned are: taking a vaccine when there is a type of protection; do not drive in dangerous areas; use an insect repellent and clothing covering as much of the skin as possible; and install mosquito nets in rooms and mosquito nets in windows. At the same time, it is necessary to keep the houses and streets clean, to properly close the bins and not to leave stagnant water – ideal habitat for breeding insects. Breno Caiafa, president of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery of Rio de Janeiro (SBACV-RJ) mentions that vascular problems do not result from rising temperatures in the world. ).

"The heat causing vasodilation, there is a circulation overload, especially in people with a history of varicose veins, thrombosis and venous insufficiency, which can cause edema (swelling) of the legs due to from the accumulation of fluid on the outside of vessels

High temperatures further increase the risk of allergies and erysipelas, an infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, caused by the proliferation of bacteria and can cause changes in (19659002) Currently, Caiafa indicates the reinforcement of healthy habits, which include a balanced diet and preferably with little salt, good hydration, regular physical activity, do not stay long periods in the same position, mbadage and lymphatic drainage, do not wear tight clothing and avoid drinking alcohol.

" patients with vascular problems, they also need to consult a vascular surgeon or an angiologist in the summer to know the recommendations and regulation of drugs, "adds the expert. The same goes for hypertensive patients, because the drop in blood pressure is common

Abrão Cury, cardiologist and general practitioner at HCor (Hospital do Coração) in São Paulo, encourages people to be more attentive to food the days of high heat, because high temperatures favor the proliferation of bacteria in some products. such as mayonnaise, sauces, condiments and seafood, increasing the risk of contamination.

The important thing is to make sure of the origin and quality of what will be consumed, to properly store the products and to get rid of those with which appearance or strange smell, especially on the beach.

Skin cancer is another source of concern, according to data from Soc.

"Summer is the period of high intensity of ultraviolet radiation, which makes exposure to the sun more dangerous, especially for fair-skinned people. punctual event, there is not much problem, but the chances are too great, the chances increase. "

Cury says the best way to protect yourself is to expose yourself to the sun in a moderate way. avoiding the 10 hours. 16h, and use of a suitable sunscreen with a high protection factor, emphasizing that it is fundamental to adhere to the manufacturer's specifications and submit a new application within the time indicated.

The Lancet Countdown Report

Since 2016, the British scientific magazine The Lancet publishes

The edition of this year has brought together 27 academic institutions from all continents, including those from Brazil, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz The Lancet Countdown: (Fiocruz), the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine (SBMFC) and the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), the United Nations (UN) and its agency government.

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