Women are biologically more susceptible to the adverse effects of heatwaves, a vulnerability exacerbated by fluctuating hormone levels and distinct physiological responses, according to medical experts. These factors can impair the body's ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Research indicates that women produce less sweat and begin to sweat at higher temperatures compared to men. This physiological difference hinders their capacity to dissipate excess heat efficiently and makes it more challenging to perceive when the body is under thermal stress, as less visible sweat may be present on the skin or clothing. Furthermore, women tend to have a higher core body temperature and a greater percentage of body fat, which acts as an additional insulating layer.
These physical attributes are compounded by the natural shifts in women's hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormonal fluctuations, which are most pronounced during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, can disrupt the brain's temperature regulation systems. The increased workload placed on the cardiovascular system during these hormonal changes can be particularly challenging in hot weather.
Experts are urging for greater public awareness regarding the heightened risks heatwaves pose to women. They are also calling for the development and implementation of more targeted strategies to protect this demographic from the dangers of extreme heat.
Heat exhaustion can manifest as feeling faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, clammy skin, nausea, vomiting, and muscle cramps. A more severe condition, heatstroke, is characterized by confusion, a lack of sweating, a body temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), hot and dry skin, nausea, vomiting, and potentially loss of consciousness, convulsions, or seizures.
