The heatwave: congestion, oedema and cramps – here are the risks and tips to avoid them

Cramps, oedema and congestion are just some of the problems one might experience due to the scorching heat. The first real heatwave of the year has hit the peninsula, with temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than the seasonal average, and experts from the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (Sima) are warning the public about the health risks associated with extreme weather conditions: excessive heat, in fact, as Sima’s president Alessandro Miani explains, ‘causes health problems as it can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation system’.

Among the most common heat-related ailments, heat exhaustion tops the list; it can cause rashes or burns, sometimes accompanied by symptoms similar to those of heatstroke. Cramps are also very common; these are physical pains caused by a loss of sodium due to sweating and a consequent change in the water-salt balance. Extreme temperatures can also cause oedema, resulting from fluid retention in the lower limbs as a consequence of prolonged peripheral vasodilation.

But that’s not all. Closely linked to sudden rises in temperature are conditions such as congestion (caused by drinking ice-cold drinks when the body is overheated), which presents symptoms such as sweating and chest pain, and dehydration, which can lead to thirst, weakness, dizziness, palpitations, anxiety, dry skin and mucous membranes, muscle cramps and a drop in blood pressure.

Finally, high temperatures increase the incidence of heatstroke, which occurs when the body’s natural ability to regulate its temperature is compromised. Among the most recognisable symptoms – which vary in intensity depending on the severity of the condition – are a sudden feeling of general malaise, followed by headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, and can progress to confusion or anxiety.

However, it is possible to protect yourself and prevent these problems from arising by taking a few precautions. To protect yourself from extreme temperatures, Sima recommends, first and foremost, to avoid exposure to the heat and sun, only leaving the house during the cooler hours of the day. It is also essential to ensure adequate air circulation in the home by making use of natural ventilation. It is also vital to ensure that the rooms in your home stay cool by shading windows exposed to the sun with roller shutters, louvres or curtains. Windows should, in fact, be kept closed during the day and then opened in the evening and at night.