Guatemalan Humberto Panjoj fainted before the end of the first half of the match between Peru and Canada.
Photo: EFE – WILLIAM PURNELL
During the match between Peru and Canada, for the second round of the Copa América, the second assistant designated for the match, Guatemalan Humberto Panjoj, fainted before the end of the first half. Although the causes are still unknown, during the meeting at Children’s Mercy Park, intense heat of around 40 degrees was reported.
As in the United States, home of the Copa América, in Europe, amid high temperatures, sports tournaments are also being held, such as the Euro Cup. A few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that temperatures “will skyrocket” this summer.
Given this alert, the WHO launched the ‘#KeepCool’ campaign, with the aim of raising awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and offering simple guidance on how to stay safe. Among the recommendations provided by the WHO is staying away from the heat, avoiding going out during the hottest hours of the day and keeping the home cool, taking advantage of the night air to cool the house and using blinds or shutters and turning off as many electrical appliances as possible. .
The organization also reminds us of the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding sugary, alcoholic or caffeinated drinks due to their dehydrating effect on the body, and wearing light clothing. In addition, they call to monitor family members, friends and neighbors who spend “a lot of time alone.”
But what are the effects that heat waves have on the human body? A report published every year The Lancet Countdown on health and climate changein which more than 100 experts and 52 organizations participated, set out to analyze the threats of climate change to human health, related to rising temperatures, air pollution and infectious diseases.
In the specific case of rising temperatures, the report noted that they caused an 80% increase in the number of people over 65 who died between the decades of 1991-2000 and 2013-2022. According to its estimates, by 2050 the number of people who will die from heat will increase fivefold in a scenario of temperatures rising to 2° Celsius.
Among the effects that this increase in temperature can cause, the report says, is that, when the body heats up, blood vessels open. That process leads to lower blood pressure and the heart has to work harder to push blood throughout the body. A consequence of this is that the feet or ankles become swollen or an itchy rash may occur.
Another health consequence of low blood pressure is exhaustion, dizziness, nausea, seizures, fainting, muscle cramps, headaches or intense sweating. As the BBC points out in one of its articles, intense sweating could cause you to “lose fluids and salt that are essential for the body.”
If the person’s blood pressure is too low, they can suffer a heart attack. This is because the human body aims to maintain an average temperature of 37°C. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC), high temperatures also make it more difficult to concentrate and do difficult tasks.
