Heat and health
What effects does heat have on health?
Heat is one of the biggest climate change-related health risks for people - including in Germany. Even young and healthy people can suffer from heat. Heatwaves lasting several days have a particularly negative impact on well-being and health. The health burden caused by heat is perceived very differently. This makes it all the more important to take the warning signs seriously and to find out about the causes, symptoms and first aid measures.
Symptoms of heat-related illnesses
Look out for possible signs of heat-related complaints such as
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- physical weakness
- Headache
- a strong feeling of thirst
Nausea, fever, unusually pale or very red skin, circulatory collapse, confusion or even unconsciousness can be clear warning signs that you are suffering from heat exhaustion or life-threatening heat stroke.
Take sudden symptoms seriously. Take yourself or the affected person to a cool place. Ensure sufficient hydration and cool the body, for example by applying cool (not ice-cold) compresses. Do not hesitate to call the emergency services (112) if necessary.
Danger period as early as spring
Even in spring, high temperatures can disrupt the body's heat balance and lead to heat stress. However, every organism can adapt to heat, although this process is slower and less effective in older people and those in need of care than in young and healthy people. The health risk is particularly high if the body has not yet acclimatized to the heat at the beginning of the hot months or during prolonged heat waves with high humidity and night-time temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.