Extreme heat is rapidly becoming one of the most serious threats to the health of the world’s population.

The situation is particularly alarming in Cyprus, which is geographically located in the area most susceptible to rising temperatures, prolonged heat waves, devastating forest fires and dust storms.

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization, the scale of the climate crisis is growing at a catastrophic pace. The effects of high temperatures are now being felt in all corners of the globe, and heat stress has already firmly held its position in the list of leading causes of death associated with weather events. For Cyprus, the updated data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe is of critical importance. Our region is warming about twice as fast as the rest of the world, outstripping all other six WHO regions in this indicator. It is noteworthy that the three hottest years in the history of observations of Europe occurred after 2020.

The statistics of deaths from overheating look frightening.

Over the past two decades, the number of deaths caused by high temperatures in Europe has increased by 30%. In 2022 alone, the heat wave caused the deaths of more than 60,000 people in 35 countries, and in 2023 this figure was about 47,500. According to preliminary estimates, the outgoing year 2024 could bring Europe almost 63,000 deaths from heat stroke and related complications. However, this is just the beginning: WHO experts warn that if drastic measures are not taken, by 2050 the annual death rate from heat could reach a shocking 120,000 people.

The picture is particularly dramatic in the Mediterranean. In the summer of 2022, the Spanish heat wave claimed the lives of almost 4,000 people, and more than a thousand died in Portugal. The current 2026 season also does not bring relief: in the last few days alone, more than 300 deaths related to high temperatures have been recorded in Spain, and five people have died in Italy in one day. The data on the Eastern Mediterranean is particularly relevant for Cyprus. The average annual temperature here has already risen by 1.84 degrees Celsius, and climate change is occurring almost twice as fast as the global average. WHO also reports an alarming 37% increase in heat-related deaths due to climate change in parts of the region.

It is important to understand that the effect of heat on the body is not limited to banal overheating or heat stroke. High temperatures contribute to the exacerbation of cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, negatively affect the course of diabetes, kidney function, asthma, and even mental health. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable. Global statistics show that heat-related deaths among citizens over the age of 65 increased by about 85% between 2000 and 2021. Given the aging process of Cyprus’ population and prolonged periods of abnormally high temperatures, this factor poses a serious challenge to the island’s healthcare system.

In this regard, WHO has issued a number of practical recommendations that can save lives. First of all, experts advise avoiding being outdoors at the peak of solar activity, preferring shade and staying in cool rooms for at least two to three hours a day. However, an important caveat concerns the use of fans. Paradoxically, when the air temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius, a running fan may not cool, but, on the contrary, heat the body, creating the effect of a convection oven. If an air conditioner is used, the optimal setting is about 27 degrees with the possible additional inclusion of a fan for air circulation.

In addition, doctors insist on drinking water regularly, without waiting for thirst to appear, unless the attending physician has given other instructions. A cool shower and light clothes made of natural fabrics help to save from overheating. It is extremely important to pay attention to elderly relatives and neighbors by regularly checking their condition. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include severe headache, excruciating thirst, weakness, dizziness, nausea, palpitations, and fainting. However, if the body temperature rises above 40 degrees, confusion, speech disorders, seizures or loss of consciousness appear, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance — these are signs of a deadly heat stroke.

Source: en.philenews.com

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