2024-08-05 10:08:39
Weak, tired and hot: When temperatures rise, many people in Germany lose energy. This affects their health.
The temperature fluctuations this year are particularly noticeable. The high temperatures are particularly troubling for many people. Around one in four Germans has already had health problems due to extreme heat this year. These can include fatigue, Circulatory problems and sleep disorders.
This is the result of a Forsa study commissioned by the health insurance company DAK-Gesundheit. In the age group over 60, around one in three people was affected. There was a significant increase here compared to the previous year, as the health insurance company’s heat report shows.
According to the survey, almost two-thirds of people are very worried about heat waves and extreme weather. Young people in particular are affected by fears.
Those surveyed who suffered from health problems were mainly affected by exhaustion (76 percent), circulatory problems (66 percent) and sleep disorders (59 percent). Of those with heat-related complaints, five percent had to visit a doctor’s office. A further 16 percent said they would have skipped a visit to the doctor’s office but would have been better off going to the doctor.
In principle, our body can regulate itself at higher temperatures: the blood vessels expand and increase their surface area in order to be able to release as much heat as possible. Water is pumped out of the blood via the sweat glands and out of the body – and we start to sweat. The sweat evaporates on the surface of the skin and cools the body down.
However, at very high temperatures or for long periods of heat, this natural temperature regulation no longer works. Blood pressure then drops, blood circulation is worse and the body loses fluids and salts.
In addition to circulatory problems, this can lead to many other complaints, including:
In view of the increase in heat waves and extreme weather predicted by science, 61 percent are very or even extremely worried. Young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are particularly concerned about these developments – 23 percent are very worried. In comparison, only 12 percent of those over 60 are worried.
DAK CEO Andreas Storm is in favor of further expanding heat prevention in Germany. “It is alarming how many people had health problems in the first few weeks of the heat,” said Storm. The federal, state and local governments have done a lot, but protection plans need to be expanded further. “Children, the sick and the elderly in particular need to be better protected from heat.” The health insurance company boss also spoke out in favor of more heat protection in the workplace.
Something must be done quickly for members of certain professional groups and sectors. For example, 89 percent believe that trades, construction and other sectors involving heavy physical work are severely affected by heat waves. More people than last year also believe that the care sector in old people’s and nursing homes is vulnerable (80 percent) and more than half (58 percent) believe that medical care in hospitals is vulnerable.
The study also surveyed nursing staff – among them, the proportion of those who are severely stressed by heat, at 49 percent, is actually more than twice as high as the average for all employed people.