High summer temperatures often have an impact on our health. Although the body can adapt to high heat, the prolonged persistence of periods of high heat sometimes weighs on the body. This can show up in different ways and can lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, or respiratory and digestive problems.
Healthy people do not get a gastrointestinal infection immediately, but illness is usually delayed for a few days. Those with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, are more likely to have episodes of gastrointestinal infection if the fever lasts for a long time.
As temperatures rise, the causes of bacterial diarrhea such as Salmonella multiply more rapidly, which generally increases the risk of gastrointestinal difficulties caused by foodborne infections. Stress is also one of the causes of diarrhea, responsible for the accumulation of diarrheal diseases in summer.
Medical experts recommend taking various measures to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses when temperatures are too high. These measures include paying more attention to hygiene, which is more important for people with inflammatory bowel disease, refrigerating and cooking food thoroughly to avoid pathogens such as salmonella, and use separate cutting boards and knives. Medical experts also recommend drinking enough water in the summer, exercising early in the morning or evening, wearing light clothing and covering your head in the sun.