How walking in the searing 40C heat can be dangerous for even healthy hikers… as Dr Michael Mosley is found dead in Greece
Walking in high temperatures – the Greek island of Symi has seen temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius in recent days – can be dangerous, even for a healthy person who does not take the right precautions.
Heat can put a strain on the body as it struggles to maintain its normal temperature of 97.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
It can cause heat cramps, exhaustion, and feelings of confusion and nausea.
In extreme cases, we can suffer from heatstroke, which can lead to organ failure and be fatal.
Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, near the site where Dr. Mosley was discovered during a search and rescue operation
Heat can put a strain on the body as it struggles to maintain its normal temperature of 97.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
It can cause heat cramps, exhaustion, and feelings of confusion and nausea. (Stock Image)
In extreme cases, we can suffer from heatstroke, which can lead to organ failure and be fatal. (Stock Image)
The body’s most important weapon to combat overheating is sweating. As sweat evaporates, it cools the body.
But humid conditions reduce the effectiveness of sweating, because the more humid the air is, the less moisture can evaporate from the skin. As the body overheats – and heat stroke occurs – the ability to sweat stops and body temperature can rise.
Excessive sweating also puts a strain on the heart. It has to pump harder to send blood, which carries heat from inside the body to the surface.
The danger increases as the body’s internal temperature rises above normal levels. Fatigue occurs between 39 and 40 degrees Celsius because our brain tells our muscles to slow down.
Exhaustion occurs between 40 and 41 degrees Celsius, as our organs begin to lose the ability to function. The next stage – when the body temperature rises above 41 degrees Celsius – is heatstroke.
