Greenpeace Middle East & North Africa
Understanding the Health Hazards of Severe Heat Waves: Essential Insights
Greenpeace Middle East & North Africa
As our world undergoes rapid changes due to significant climate change, extreme heat waves have emerged as an unavoidable part of life, particularly affecting those in
Middle East and North Africa. The consequences of these warmness waves amplify properly past high temperatures, immediately threatening human fitness.
According to Copernicus, the European Climate Service, 2024 marked the hottest summer on record since the pre-industrial era. This region faced extraordinary heat waves, with countries like Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia experiencing unprecedented temperature surges.
Just last week, the UAE hit an astonishing 51.6°C, making it the hottest May temperature recorded since climate monitoring began.
Symptoms include disorientation, rapid heartbeat, and memory loss.
Health Effects of Severe Heat Waves
Risk of Heart Issues: High temperatures put extra pressure on blood vessels, raising the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, particularly in older adults and individuals with existing heart problems.
Dehydration: Losing significant body fluids can lead to severe dehydration, which affects essential bodily functions and can result in dizziness, intense headaches, and fatigue. In extreme cases, it may lead to seizures and dangerously low blood pressure.
Heat Exhaustion: Common signs include extreme sweating, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Without proper intervention, it may escalate to heatstroke.
Heatstroke: This life-threatening condition arises when body temperature exceeds 40°C.
Symptoms include disorientation, rapid heartbeat, and memory loss.
Sunburn: Extended exposure to UV rays results in painful burns, characterized by redness and swelling, which can develop blisters in severe instances.
Respiratory Problems: High temperatures combined with humidity can worsen respiratory issues like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), resulting in difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
Vulnerable Groups During Extreme Heat: Who is Most at Risk?
Elderly and Young Children: Those most vulnerable, including infants and older adults, face heightened risks from heat stress. Their bodies struggle to adjust to increasing temperatures, raising their chances of serious dehydration.
warmness-related deaths among those aged 65 and older elevated by using eighty five% between 2000–2004 and 2017–2021.
Expectant Mothers: High heat can lead to severe complications such as premature birth and low birth weight. Additionally, exposure to elevated temperatures might induce early labor or increase blood pressure, raising the likelihood of hypertension and gestational diabetes.
Outdoor Laborers: Workers exposed to direct sunlight, like those in construction and agriculture, are at increased risk for heat stress. According to a recent International Labour Organization assessment, climate-related dangers affect 70% of the world's workforce and are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually.
Rising temperatures pose a significant challenge for humanity, particularly in our region, directly impacting public health and necessitating urgent, comprehensive action. Knowing how to safeguard your health during heat waves is essential. The following article provides practical advice on maintaining a safe body temperature and protecting oneself during extreme heat.