READ IF YOU ARE AT RISK OF HAVING TO TOLERATE HIGH TEMPERATURES WITH HIGH HUMIDITY

 With Climate Change delivering broader ranges of temperature variance the innocuous term ‘heatstroke’ is being used with greater frequency. It is time to convey some factual information on its meaning. The medical community knows "heatstroke" as meaning hyperthermia or when the body’s core temperature ranges between 37.5 deg.C and 38.3 deg.C. Body temperatures above 40 deg.C (104 deg. F) can be fatal resulting from damage to critical respiratory enzymes. Our peripheral body temperature is, on average, 30 deg.C. The differential from the average 37 deg.C core temperature is 7 deg.C.  Most of the heat, in the human body, is generated in the Mitochondria. The minimum temperature differential required by your body to eliminate heat is 3 deg.C. Our bodies are well designed and have the means to control heat dissipation. With normal peripheral body temperature at 30 deg.C and external air temperature at 34 deg.C our sweat glands in the dermis layer of our skin activate and secrete mostly water and dissolved sodium chloride and a little potassium. The evaporation of our perspiration removes heat from our body to maintain a normal core temperature of 37 deg.C. It becomes a serious problem depending on the humidity or moisture content of the air. High humidity will preclude evaporation which will lead to hyperthermia. Leaving the zone of high temperature air and high humidity to dryer, cooler and shaded areas becomes of paramount importance to maintain life. Don’t under estimate the importance of hydration drink more than you feel like drinking.

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