4 days agoShareSaveJames GallagherShareSaveGetty ImagesHot weather during the summer can affect anyone, but some people run a greater risk of serious harm.Experts recommend checking on those who may be more vulnerable, such as older people and babies.What does extreme heat do to our bodies?As the body gets hotter, blood vessels open up. This leads to lower blood pressure and makes the heart work harder to push the blood around the body.This process can cause mild symptoms such as an itchy heat rash or swollen feet. At the same time, sweating leads to the loss of fluids and salt and, crucially, the balance between them in the body changes.This, combined with the lowered blood pressure, can lead to heat exhaustion. Symptoms include:dizzinessnauseafaintingconfusionmuscle crampsheadachesheavy sweatingtirednessIf blood pressure drops too far, the risk of heart attacks rises.Why do bodies react this way to heat?Our bodies strive to keep a core temperature of about 37C whether we are in a snowstorm or a heatwave.That is the temperature at which our bodies have evolved to work.But as the weather gets hotter, it is harder for the body to keep its core temperature down.It opens more blood vessels near the skin to lose heat to our surroundings and starts sweating.As the sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases the heat lost from the skin.How can I stay safe in the heat?The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recommends looking out for those who may struggle to keep cool, such as older people, those with underlying conditions and and those who live alone.Other advice includes:staying cool indoors by closing curtains on rooms that face the sundrinking plenty of fluids and avoiding too much alcoholkeeping out of the sun between 11:00 and 15:00 when the sun’s rays are strongeststaying in the shade, using sunscreen with a high SPF and UVA rating, and wearing a wide-brimmed hatavoiding physical exercise in the hottest part of the daycarrying water with you if travellingAnyone tempted to cool off in rivers and open water should consult local warning signs and consider any hidden dangers. No one – especially babies, young children and animals – should ever be left in a locked vehicle. Getty ImagesWhat should I do if I think someone has heat exhaustion or heatstroke?If you see someone you think has heat exhaustion, the NHS says you should: move them to a cool placeget them to lie down and raise their feet slightlyget them to drink plenty of water – sports or rehydration drinks are also OKcool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good tooIf they can be cooled down within half an hour, then heat exhaustion is not normally serious.However, if they do not recover within 30 minutes, then they are at risk of heatstroke.This is a medical emergency and you should call 999 immediately.People with heatstroke may stop sweating even though they are too hot. Their temperature could go over 40C and they might have seizures or lose consciousness.Who is most at risk from hot weather?People who are older or have some long-term conditions – such as heart disease – are sometimes less able to cope with the strain heat puts on the body.Diabetes can make the body lose water more quickly and some complications of the disease can alter blood vessels and the ability to sweat.Children and those who are less mobile may also be more vulnerable. Brain diseases, such as dementia, can also leave people unaware of the heat or unable to do anything about it.People who are homeless will also be more exposed to the sun. Those living in top-floor flats will also face higher temperatures.Do some drugs increase the risk of hot …
