As Earth turns into Tatooine from Star Wars due to record-breaking temperatures, stressors on its victims include something terrifyingly called “heatstroke” and a gang of diseases attacking hearts, kidneys, and lungs
Heat, much like that creepy neighbor lurking around, is a silent force causing havoc. When things heat up too much, your heart turns into an over-enthusiastic drummer, blood morphs into hyperactive racing cars, and organs throw tantrums. Your body staggers under the weight of trying to handle its brand new sauna. Your internal thermometer zips from comfy room temperature (37C) to “I-feel-like-I-have-a-fever” (38C), to “I-think-I’m-cooking-from-inside” (40C).
A plethora of typically outdoor folks – farmers, builders, and our disappearing hominids are not spared either. While some immediately succumb to heatstroke’s siren call, the more sinister aftermath of climate-fueled heart, lung, and kidney disease is the downfall of most. In a turn of events that feels like a grotesque weather-themed action movie, Research accuses the heat of committing a mass-extermination in Europe last summer, with the casualty count reaching a staggering 61,672 – the equivalent of a jumbo jet deciding to do a belly flop every single day.
To find out how more heatwaves could turn everyone into walking BBQs, and what you could do to survive the summer equivalent of “Game of Thrones'” long winter, continue reading… In the meantime, remember to layer on that SPF and thank your air conditioner for its relentless service.
