Heatwave & Heatstroke

4th May 2024

What Is Heatwave?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted heatwave conditions in West Bengal and Odisha until April end and everyone needs to take extra precautions this summer. It is going to be extra sweaty, so you should also be extra watchful towards their health. But first, you need to have a fair understanding of what is heatwave and what is heatstroke.

According to IMD, heat waves occur at a range of temperatures that are harmful to the human body. In some areas, it is calculated on the temperature threshold for a particular region, or by the range it varies from the normal temperature. Numerically, when the temperature is at least 40°C or more for Plains and at least 30°C or more for Hilly regions, it is considered to be a heatwave. Also, if the temperature increases by 4.5°C to 6.4°C from the normal value and this lasts for at least 2 consecutive days, then the situation is taken as a heat wave.

What Is Heatstroke?

When you spend a lot of time outside or physically exert yourself in hot weather, you can get heatstroke. In this case, your body overheats. If your body temperature reaches 104 F (40°C) or greater, you may have heatstroke, the most severe type of heat injury. This is most common in the summertime.

Conclusion

If you leave a heat stroke untreated, the effects can be very bad. Heat stroke can cause significant damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. The longer you leave the condition untreated, the worse it gets. Contact your nearby healthcare centers or a physician for further discussions on this.