2023-06-29 05:37:00
Everyone knows the catchphrase of the heat wave. You have to stay hydrated, cover your head, do not make intense physical efforts, etc. But in these times of high heat, it is interesting to understand how the human body reacts when the mercury panics and the drought sets in. It’s not rocket science… Extreme situations, such as extreme cold or a heat wave, have an impact on our homeostasis, our ability to regulate certain characteristics, including temperature, in compatibility with the proper functioning of our body. “It’s like a thermostat that reacts to heat and says to itself “Warning! I have to put in place a system to fight the heat otherwise my brain will start to boil””, illustrates Dr. Véronique Latteur, geriatrician at the Grand Hôpital de Charleroi. If we are in good health, the regulatory mechanism that will be put in place will reduce body heat through sweating. “We will sweat so that the evaporation of water on the skin dissipates the heat. Moreover, when we go under the shower, it is not the shower itself that refreshes us, but the evaporation of water on the body.“The risk in the event of a heat wave will be to lose too much sweat. Water, but also ions, sodium, potassium… Without water to sweat, we don’t compensate correctly, body heat is maintained and we risk dehydration. It is this phenomenon that is the cause of most problems related to high temperatures. We think of the kidneys, in particular, which need to be hydrated without which we risk kidney failure. But it’s not just them. For example, the brain does not appreciate such extreme situations, which can cause what is commonly called heatstroke. “When there is not enough evacuation of heat from the body or too much water elimination, this can lead to acute confusion in the most fragile, this can make some children apathetic or conversely very agitated .”
A lack of hydration can also completely disrupt the cardiovascular system. “The risk is hypotension. The heart pumps faster to compensate. When the heart can no longer pump blood into the muscles, there is a risk of falling, you fall easily.” It should also be noted that people with respiratory problems may also see their problems worsen or suffer from loss of balance. High heat and dry weather also have consequences on the skin. “When she is dehydrated, bedsores, pressure sores, form much more easily. The fabric is more fragile. For example, someone who fell due to a lack of hydration and remained on the ground for a few hours will be covered in more wounds than usual.”
With sweat, we lose sodium, potassium. Drink a salty broth or gazpacho to compensate.
The night is hot…
Some tend to think that when the sun is beating down, their digestion is disrupted. It is somewhat true, but only indirectly. “With the heat, we are much less hungry, we change the way we eat and sometimes we don’t drink enough. It can cause constipation or diarrhoea, but that comes only from these disturbances in habits.“Doctor Latteur obviously reminds us of the need to drink water, even when you don’t really want it. “With age, we lose the thirst reflex. We do not compensate enough for what we lose. You really have to force yourself to drink a little water regularly and eat a little bit. With sweat, we also lose sodium and potassium. It is worth drinking a small salty broth, a soup or why not a gazpacho to compensate.”
© Colonel
The thermometer panics, our sleep is also disturbed, because our body no longer manages to self-regulate. “Our ability to adapt is limited by relatively narrow margins. When we take the body temperature, between 35° and 38°, it’s not huge”, explains Professor Daniel Neu, somnologist and head of the Sleep Center at the Delta du Chirec hospital in Brussels. Sleep helps us regulate our internal temperature, to cool the body by releasing heat, especially through the skull. “That’s why you shouldn’t cover your head when you sleep, even less when it’s very hotsays the specialist. For a bedroom, the optimum temperature is between 17°C and 19°C. This allows the brain to evacuate calories more easily.“Inevitably, if it is 30°C outside and 25°C where you sleep, the situation is not ideal. “This affects the quality of sleep, says Professor Neu, who wants to be reassuring all the same. It’s not the cata either! It’s not pleasant, but it’s not like we’re going to alter our internal body temperature and get a fever or anything. If it doesn’t happen in a hot tub or sauna, it won’t happen following very hot nights.”
Quality sleep
To regain quality sleep, the somnologist strongly recommends air fresheners. “We can’t all move, we have to find tips. These devices are quite inexpensive, simple, can be installed near the bed at night and humidify the air for a feeling of freshness. And it’s less noisy and powerful than a fan.“It is also recommended to go to bed and sleep as unclothed and as uncovered as possible. “And why not with slightly wet hair, it feels good too.“After a hot night, it is also important to drink water as soon as you wake up. “We all get dehydrated during sleep, it’s normal. Often, we go to the bathroom before sleeping, then at night, obviously, we don’t drink. So a glass of water before coffee, which increases diuretic evacuation and dehydrates, is a good reflex, especially in the elderly.”
Indeed, for people aged 75 and over, the risk of dehydration is also higher at night, during sleep. “Adaptation capacities become more rigid, the compliance of biological functions is no longer the same and you have to protect yourself as much as possible. For example, sleeping in the attic at that age is really irrelevant.”
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