Hesse in the heat: 36.5 degrees and a friendly view!

Hesse in the heat: 36.5 degrees and a friendly view!

August is showing extreme temperatures these days, as highs in Hesse reached up to 36.5 degrees on Thursday. It was particularly hot in Schlüchtern-Herolz, where the thermometer showed exactly this maximum value. The heat wave was also clearly noticeable in other cities such as Bad Hersfeld (36.3 degrees) as well as Fulda, Offenbach, Bad Nauheim and Frankfurt's Westend, with temperatures of up to 36.2 degrees. The hottest day of the year so far was on July 2nd, when 39.0 degrees were measured in Bensheim. Despite extremely high temperatures, the severe weather warnings had now expired, which was a relief for many.

It will be a little fresher on Friday, with maximum temperatures between 28 and 35 degrees. If you plan on the weekend, you can expect temperatures of 21 to 30 degrees on Saturday and 19 to 26 degrees on Sunday. The weather will remain mostly sunny, with only a little rain. For the start of the new week, meteorologists led by Mark Eisenmann are forecasting temperatures between 22 and 29 degrees, emphasizing that summer is not over yet, but extreme heat like last week is unlikely. This raises the question of how well Cologne and the surrounding area can survive the heat.

Health implications of heat

The extreme temperatures are not just a weather phenomenon, they can also have health effects. It is well known that high temperatures pose a challenge to the body. Groups particularly at risk include older people and people with pre-existing health problems. These could, for example, suffer from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which, as experts report, are malignant diseases of hematopoietic stem cells.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and may have a high propensity to transform into AML. Advanced age and concomitant diseases make many patients unsuitable for the only curative therapy: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The pathogenesis of these diseases is often poorly understood, which does not reduce the challenges for physicians and those affected. Understanding these diseases and their treatment is critical to ensuring adequate care.

Keep an eye on eye health

But it's not just the extreme heat that poses a health risk. Eye health should not be neglected, especially in summer. A common condition that is often overlooked is wet macular degeneration, a condition that affects central visual acuity. The first signs include drusen, yellow deposits on the retina. In advanced disease, necessary light-sensitive cells can die.

Diagnoses are made through a variety of methods, including review of medical and family history, a comprehensive eye exam, and specialized tests such as the Amsler grid. Treatments to combat the disease include anti-VEGF drugs, which are intended to stop the growth of new blood vessels. It is important to have regular eye exams and take care of your own vision health. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet could also have a preventive effect and have a positive effect on the progression of such diseases.

So the upcoming warmer days are not only a challenge for our bodies, but they also require a certain level of responsibility when it comes to our health. It is therefore advisable to be well informed and act accordingly!