Heatwaves can kill you in more than 27 different ways
Researchers identified five physiological mechanisms with impacts seen on seven vital organs:
Inadequate blood supply
1) Lack of blood to brain leads to death of brain tissue
2) Lack of blood to heart leads to heart attack
3) Lack of blood to intestines leads to a hole in the wall of intestines, leading to death
4) Lack of blood to kidneys causes them to shut down
5) Lack of blood to liver causes it to shut down
6) Lack of blood to pancreas causes severe blood and fluid loss, leading to death
Rising body temperature becomes toxic to cells
7) Heat destroys cells in the brain, leading to death
8) Heat destroys cells in the heart, leading to death
9) Heat destroys cells in the intestines, leading to death
10) Heat destroys cells in the kidney, leading to death
11) Heat destroys cells in the liver, leading to death
12) Heat destroys cells in the lungs, leading to death
Inflammatory response
13) Inflammation of the brain leads to death
14) Inflammation of the heart leads to death
15) Inflammation of the intestines leads to death
16) Inflammation of the kidney leads to death
17) Inflammation of the liver leads to death
18) Inflammation of the lungs leads to death
19) Inflammation of the pancreas leads to death
Widespread formation of blood clots
20) Formation of blood clots in brain leads to stroke
21) Formation of blood clots in intestines leads to death
22) Formation of blood clots in kidneys leads to death
23) Formation of blood clots in liver leads to death
24) Formation of blood clots in lung leads to death
Muscle fibres die and are released into bloodstream
25) Muscle fibres die and leak myoglobin which is toxic to kidneys
26) Muscle fibres die and leak myoglobin which is toxic to liver
27) Muscle fibres die and leak myoglobin which is toxic to lungs