Heat is claiming more and more victims – but why are young people increasingly affected? Experts reveal the surprising reasons that affect everyone.
Munich – Young people are often seen as robust and resilient, but when it comes to extreme temperatures, a different picture emerges. While older people have underlying medical conditions that make them more sensitive to heat, younger people often underestimate the danger. They continue to do sports, work outdoors or party in high temperatures – activities that put a lot of strain on the body. In addition, many young people lack awareness of the risks of dehydration and heat stroke.
Studies by the World Health Organization show that they often ignore or do not take warning signs such as dizziness or nausea seriously. This behavior leads to an increased risk of fatal heat consequences such as cardiovascular failure. You can read important tips to prevent a collapse in the heat here.
Stress due to modern lifestyle
Modern lifestyles make young people more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Long working hours, especially in jobs without air conditioning or involving physical work outdoors, put a lot of stress on the body. There is also the trend towards intensive sports such as marathons, often with inadequate preparation or in unfavorable weather conditions. Another factor: Many young people live in cities where the so-called “urban heat island” effect occurs. Dense buildings and asphalt surfaces store the heat, which leads to significantly higher temperatures. Without adequate cooling, such as air conditioning, the strain on the body becomes enormous.
Alcohol, Drugs and Lack of Sleep: The Underrated Killers
A significant but often overlooked factor is the influence of alcohol and drugs. Many young people consume these substances in hot weather, which accelerates dehydration and reduces the perception of danger signals. “Alcohol in particular increases the body’s heat production, while at the same time reducing the ability to regulate temperature,” warns qualified meteorologist Dominik Jung from wetter.net.
wetter.net – the weather in a nutshell!
This article was created in a content partnership with wetter.net. wetter.net offers you everything you need to know about weather and climate. On our pages you will find worldwide city and location forecasts for the next 14 days, with a 1-hour time resolution for the first 7 days and a 3-hour time resolution for the following days. Weather forecasts, precipitation radar, measured values, weather warnings, Germany weather and weather news provide information about current developments as well as the coming hours and days.
Lack of sleep also plays a role: Young people who do not get enough rest at night are more susceptible to heat-related health problems. The lack of regeneration weakens the immune system and the circulation, which can have fatal consequences at high temperatures.
