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