Météo France issued a red heatwave alert in 12 and then 14 departments this Friday. With temperatures hovering in the 40s in several southwestern cities, the body needs to stay cool. In some cases, certain organs can suffer from the heat.
During the heat wave you have to protect your body. For the body to function optimally, the body temperature must be between 36°C and 38°C. So when the outside heat exceeds these thresholds, the body functions differently and enters the thermoregulation phase. Here are three organs most at risk from high heat.
The brain
Next to the heart, the brain is probably the most important vital organ in the human body. When mercury rises above 37°C, the brain can become stressed. In fact, nervous communication can be disrupted. The cells are damaged in some cases, as explained by doctor Carlos G. Musso, who practices in the Department of Human Physiology at the University Institute of the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires (Argentina).
The heart
Extreme heat has different effects on the heart. The first, and one of the most worrisome, is the acceleration of the heart rate, which professionals refer to as “compensatory tachycardia.” In addition, dehydration leads to increased production of nitric oxide, which is thought to improve blood flow by increasing the diameter of the vessels. In other words, the body puts itself into a “survival state” and finds ways to continue to supply blood and oxygen to the heart.
People whose bodies are less tolerant of heat, or those who already have cardiovascular problems, may be vulnerable to myocardial damage in certain situations.
the gut
According to health experts, in times of a heat wave, heat is dissipated through sweat up to 2 liters of water. In order to prevent dehydration, it is necessary to increase the amount of water consumed during the day to a maximum of 2.5 liters of water. But this extraordinary contribution can lead to digestive and elimination difficulties. Thus, the salt and water present in the digestive system cause diarrhea or intestinal pain. In some cases, the more frequent excretion can also lead to overactive kidneys.
In order to fight the heat as best as possible, the authorities are stepping up their efforts to spread the word about the measures to be taken, in particular staying cool as possible, drinking well and, above all, checking regularly on people who are alone and/or or elderly. The government has also set up a toll-free number for this Thursday: 0800.06.66.66.