Turkey will experience hell this weekend, with temperature records being broken one after another. Temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees in the Aegean and southern provinces, especially in Istanbul. While it is expected, it is stated that the felt temperature will exceed 45 degrees. While experts are already warning of precautions for the weekend, there are concerns that people in the risk group will experience serious health problems.
RECORD TEMPERATURES
While the temperatures scorching Turkey continue to rise, the average June temperature, which was measured as 21.8 degrees across the country between 1991-2020, was determined as 25.4 degrees last month, 3.6 degrees above normal. According to the comparison made since 1971 in the temperature analyses, June 2024 was recorded as the hottest June in the last 53 years. However, the oppressive temperatures will rise even more starting from the weekend. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department, AKOM, announced that temperatures in Istanbul will remain at least between 33-36 degrees throughout the new week.
AUGUST WILL BURN TOO
Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory Meteorology Laboratory Director Adil Tek stated that the heat wave coming from North Africa continues to have an effect and that it will be more effective in the southern parts of the country. Tek said, “The increasing humidity on the Marmara and Black Sea coasts increases the feeling of oppression.”
Tek, who also shared his predictions for August, said, “Heat waves will be seen in August as well. Globally, 2023 was the hottest year in the last 175 years. New global temperature records could be broken this year. The frequency of heat waves is increasing due to climate change. “One of the most important effects of climate change is the northward advance of the tropical belt, that is, the latitude shift,” he said.
HEART PATIENTS ATTENTION!
Experts, however, state that the scorching heat poses a risk of causing serious health problems. Brain and Nerve Surgeon Prof. Dr. Erkin Sönmez, while stating that extreme temperatures can trigger brain hemorrhage, said: “Especially middle-aged and older heart and blood pressure patients, people with underlying diseases prone to bleeding, as well as patients taking blood thinners, need to be very careful. Direct exposure to the sun during periods when the temperature exceeds 32 degrees Celsius can cause brain hemorrhage. “Increased body temperature causes sweating and loss of fluid and salt. This leads to rapid changes in blood pressure. and causes serious impairment in blood clotting.
ONE IN 100 DEATHS
Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Cengiz Köksal, while touching on the negative effects of extremely hot weather on heart health, said, “In hot weather, the heart, lungs and kidneys need to work harder to maintain the body’s heat balance. This poses a great risk, especially for heart patients. A recently published study conducted in 27 countries found that extreme heat is the cause of one in every 100 heart-related deaths. said.
Heart and Vascular Associate Professor Dr. İsmail Ateş also emphasized that the risk of heart attack increases, saying, “High temperatures create stress on the body and increase the risk of heart attack. Hot weather causes the heart to work harder to regulate body temperature, so it poses a risk for people with preexisting heart disease. If possible, avoid going out during the afternoon hours.”
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