 Europe is facing days of record-breaking temperatures as the Cerberus heatwave risks conditions exceeding 40C – with Italy tipped for as high as 48.8C. The country has already issued a number of red alerts as the temperature soars, while on Tuesday the sobering news that a man in his forties died due to the heat in northern Italy laid bare the dangers of extreme heat. Those exposed to heatwaves face increasingly severe illnesses. The mildest are heat cramps. There are two main mechanisms used by the body to keep cool. The first is vasodilation, where the small blood vessels, or capillaries, just beneath the skin widen. This exposes more blood to the surface, where heat can be released through radiation. A second mechanism is through sweating, which draws heat from the skin as it evaporates. However, sweat contains salts, which are vital in muscle movement. This means if the body is sweating but the salts are not replaced, such as through a sports drink, the muscles can cramp. Temperatures are predicted to exceed 40C in parts of Europe tomorrow (Picture: Metro.co.uk) These two actions help to maintain the body's internal temperature of 37C, known as thermoregulation. However, as external temperatures exceed that level, it becomes harder for the systems to prevent the core temperature climbing. After heat cramps, the body may begin to suffer heat exhaustion. In addition to heavy sweating, early symptoms include feeling faint or dizzy. This is caused by an increased heart rate as more blood is pumped to the skin. This can also lead to a weak, rapid pulse – for every 0.5C rise in core temperature, the heart rate goes up around ten beats per minute. To prevent further heating, the brain tells the muscles to slow down, leading to a feeling of fatigue. Nausea and a headache may also set in. It is essential to keep hydrated in the heat (Picture: AFP) At this point, anyone suffering th){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Europe is facing days of record-breaking temperatures as the Cerberus heatwave risks conditions exceeding 40C – with Italy tipped for as high as 48.8C.
The country has already issued a number of red alerts as the temperature soars, while on Tuesday the sobering news that a man in his forties died due to the heat in northern Italy laid bare the dangers of extreme heat.
Those exposed to heatwaves face increasingly severe illnesses.
The mildest are heat cramps.