Heat wave caused by climate change

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The broadcast broadcasts a heat wave warning due to the heat wave every day. Higher-than-usual temperatures in some areas are having many fatal effects on daily life.

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1. What is a thermal disease?

With the arrival of "early heat" in spring and early summer, the occurrence of heat-related diseases is also continuing. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's emergency room monitoring system for thermal diseases, the cumulative number of thermal diseases nationwide from the 20th of last month to June 8th, when the count began, was 48 and the number of deaths was 1.

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2. Causes of heat-related diseases

Climate change

In March, it was frequently affected by mobile high pressure compared to the average year, and it recorded 9.4 degrees, 3.3 degrees higher than the previous year, as warm air from the Eurasian continent flowed into the Korean Peninsula. Since mid-May, the mobile high pressure has been located in the east and south of Korea, and the warm wind has been strong and the strong sunlight has been hot, causing the daily maximum temperature to exceed 30 degrees.

Amid the high temperature phenomenon in spring, the number of patients with thermal diseases has also increased as the scorching heat is expected to come from June.

A weather forecast

The Korea Meteorological Administration announced on the 9th that this spring was the "hottest spring on record" since 1973.

The average temperature between March and May this year was 13.5 degrees, 1.6 degrees higher than the average spring temperature, the highest in the country since 1973, when the weather network was expanded across the country and became a reference point for various weather records.

El Nino effect

In particular, this year's summer heat is expected to change very much every month due to the influence of El Nino. This year's heat wave is expected to be 10-14 days, a little more than usual, but it is unlikely that there will be a long-term heat wave due to heavy rain in July.

An official from the Korea Meteorological Administration said, "The influence of El Nino could increase water vapor and increase the possibility of tropical nights," adding, "In addition, heat and precipitation changes will be very severe if the North Pacific high pressure is affected in August."

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3. Current status of patients with thermal diseases

Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's emergency room monitoring system on the 10th, the cumulative number of thermal diseases nationwide from May 20 to June 8, when the tally began, was 48 and the death toll was 1.

The number of people with thermal diseases is less than the total of 59 during the same period last year, but the death toll came 41 days earlier. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the deceased was a 44-year-old Chinese man who died of a thermal disease while harvesting onions in a field on the 21st of last month.

Current Status of Thermal Patients by Region

Gyeonggi-do had the largest number of thermal diseases with 11, followed by Seoul with 7, Gyeongnam with 7, Gyeongbuk with 6, Gangwon with 4, Busan with 2, Daejeon with 2, Jeonbuk with 1, and Incheon, Gwangju, Ulsan, Chungbuk, Chungnam, Jeonnam, and Jeju with 1. By age, 15 people (31.3%) were 65 years of age or older. It was followed by 10 people (20.8%) aged 50 to 59.

By disease, there were 21 people with excessive sweating, fatigue, muscle cramps, and vomiting, accounting for 43.8% of the total. By location, the most common occurrence occurred in workshops and rice fields (9 people each), and by time zone, between 10 and 12 o'clock (13 people).

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4. Measures to prevent heat-related diseases

Lifestyle changes

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people to wear loose, light-colored light clothes, take hats or parasols to lower their body temperature, and drink water frequently so that they do not feel thirsty. It was also recommended to refrain from outdoor activities from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., the hottest time.

Attention to the elderly who have weakened body temperature control

① Humans are thermostatic animals that maintain constant body temperature in response to changes in outside temperature. If you continue to work or work in a high-temperature environment such as a heat wave, blood flow increases by expanding skin blood vessels. Currently, it regulates body temperature by dissipating heat through physiological reactions such as releasing sweat. However, if you continue to be exposed to such a high-temperature environment, your body temperature control function may be abnormal, causing heatstroke, etc.

② In particular, people with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and hemodialysis, workers working outdoors, and the elderly living alone need special attention.

③ The reason why the elderly is particularly vulnerable to heat waves is that as the human body ages, sweat glands decrease, reducing sweat emissions, and the ability to lower body temperature decreases. In fact, an analysis of thermal diseases caused by the heat wave showed that the proportion of deaths over 65 years old was high, and the majority occurred while working in rice fields.

④ Therefore, it is important to stop what you are doing and rest in a cool place during the daytime (12:00-17:00) when the sun is strongest.

Report the occurrence of a patient with a thermal illness

If you feel dizzy or headache, take a rest! Muscle cramps and unconsciousness call 119!

①When exposed to the heat wave for a long time, everyone experiences mild symptoms such as discomfort, boredom, and decreased concentration. The problem is when you experience severe symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and fainting, including muscle cramps.

② In the event of such an emergency, you should first move to a well-ventilated shade or a safe room with air conditioning. It is also important to drink freezing water, take off your clothes, and cool your body with a fan or fan while spraying water on your skin.

③ If symptoms do not improve after rest, you must visit a medical institution for treatment.

If convulsions, fainting, or loss of consciousness occur, you should report to 119 immediately and visit the hospital immediately.

(Note) Differences between frequent thermal diseases, sunstroke, and heatstroke

Typical thermal diseases caused by heat include sunstroke and heatstroke.

Sunstroke

It is easy to confuse the two words, but sunstroke means dehydration as the body temperature rises between 37 and 40 degrees due to exposure to elevated temperatures. The word "heated by the heat" is also an expression of sunstroke. If your heart beats faster and you have symptoms such as dizziness, headache, and nausea, you must rest in the shade.

Heat stroke

It's more dangerous than sunstroke and the symptoms are serious. Heat dissipation does not occur properly in work and exercise spaces that can be exposed to excessive elevated temperatures It is a disease caused by maintaining a solid temperature. High fever above 40 degrees, consciousness disorder, central nervous system abnormality, Muscle tremors and so on.

In addition, ▲ heat rash due to inflammation of the sweat glands ▲ swelling of the feet and ankles, but special treatment Unnecessary thermal edema ▲ Due to hypotension caused by peripheral vascular expansion and decreased tone of vascular movement Heat fainting ▲ Heat cramps that cause excessive salt loss due to sweat and muscle spasms ▲ Various symptoms such as headaches may occur due to insufficient water intake and loss of salt.