WE have been waiting absolutely ages after what feels like the longest and wettest winter and spring but finally, finally the great British Summertime has arrived. And almost instantly, it is too hot! The Met Office and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have issued a yellow heat health alert for most of England for the next few days as temperatures are expected to hit approximately 31C . A yellow alert is issued when temperatures reach a level which would mainly impact vulnerable people, for example those over the age of 65 or those with chronic health conditions.
Due to this, there may be impacts in the health and social care sectors. Whatever the temperature outside - be it minus five or 35C - the body needs to stay in a very tightly controlled temperature range, between about 35-37.5 degrees.
Think how unwell you feel when you have a fever which is not much higher! This thermoregulatory control is called homeostasis and the body has mechansisms to try and keep itself at the correct temperature. We shiver when we are cold and when we are too hot we become thirsty, encouraging us to drink. We also sweat to try to lose heat and the blood vessels in the skin dilate and widen in order to radiate out heat.
But if the body’s temperature control mechanisms become overwhelmed you may become more seriously unwell. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are health conditions related to the hot weather , but they don’t just occur outside. If your home is too hot they can occur inside as .
