Madonna concert: what are the risks of high temperatures and how to protect yourself?

If Madonna promised warm weather, we can say it did not disappoint. On Saturday, the 4th, the singer takes the stage at Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, to close The Celebration Tour with an estimated audience of 1.5 million people and in the midst of the fourth heat wave of the year. The forecast, according to Climatempo, is that fans and the artist herself will face temperatures of up to 36ºC, which requires some special care.

Still according to the Brazilian meteorology platform, the forecast is that the temperature peak will occur between 3pm and 4pm. However, due to the proximity to the sea, the thermal sensation is expected to be even higher, which raises a warning for those who plan to arrive early for the show, scheduled to start at 9:45 pm. At the time of the presentation, the forecast is 30ºC, but, due to the crowds, the thermal sensation also tends to be greater.

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As explained by the cardiologist at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo, Marcelo Franken, our body usually maintains an internal temperature between 36ºC and 37ºC. However, when we are exposed to high temperatures, a situation called heat stress, the body makes a series of physiological adaptations to regulate body temperature. One of them is the elimination of heat through sweat and the other is vasodilation, which is the dilation of blood vessels to “release heat”.

What are the risks of heat stress?

Although the body acts as if it were an “automatic thermal regulator”, these physiological adaptations, when accompanied by long periods of exposure to heat and little hydration, may not cope with the situation. In other words, the system continues to function, but without being able to keep up with the body’s needs, resulting in a series of adverse effects, such as dehydration – triggered mainly by the loss of water as a result of sweat -, heatstroke and, in the worst case scenario, heart overload. .

According to Franken, dehydration, characterized not only by a low concentration of water but also of mineral salts, reduces blood volume, directly impacting blood pressure. Furthermore, it causes the blood to thicken, increasing the likelihood of clot formation. Another point is that heat stress overloads the heart, which accelerates its rhythm to dissipate body heat, thus increasing the risk of heart attacks and arrhythmias.

According to the schedule, the singer’s show will take place at night, however, even without exposure to the sun, the high temperatures are enough to trigger dehydration. Furthermore, for those who will arrive early to secure a good seat in the audience, prolonged exposure to the sun and intense heat can result in heatstroke, with dehydration being one of the symptoms associated with this condition.

What are the risk groups?

According to the expert, babies, the elderly and people with pre-existing diseases, such as kidney disease, high blood pressure, coronary disease and heart failure, are the groups most susceptible to the effects of high temperatures.

What are the symptoms caused by heat stress?

Dehydration is one of the symptoms of heatstroke, which only happens when there is sun exposure. But other than that, both conditions have similar signs, such as:

– Headache

– Dizziness

– Cramps

– Change in level of consciousness

– Nausea and vomiting

– Dry skin

– Convulsive seizures

– Fainting

Heatstroke may also be accompanied by skin burns. In these cases, within a period of 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the incidence of the sun, the burn can already occur, especially if there is no type of sun protection.

How to protect yourself?

According to Franken, the best way to protect yourself is to drink lots of water. In addition to the heat, fans of singer Madonna must also face the dry weather. The forecast is for low relative humidity, around 20%. Therefore, health professionals recommend paying extra attention to hydration.

In addition to hydration (water, coconut water or isotonic drinks), the specialist highlights the following guidelines:

– Look for an airy place (shade);

– Wear light clothing, hats and sunscreen;

– Give preference to light and fresh foods;

– If possible, cool off in the showers on the shore.

It is important to highlight that the Rio de Janeiro State Water and Sewage Company (Cedae) stated that it will provide hydration points along the Copacabana waterfront on the day of the event.

Pay attention to the consumption of alcoholic beverages

According to the cardiologist at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, the consumption of alcoholic beverages at events held on days with high temperatures is not recommended. This is because alcoholic drinks do not promote hydration, on the contrary: they end up contributing to the risk of dehydration due to their antidiuretic effect. This results in an increase in urine volume, which, in turn, can intensify dehydration or predispose to heatstroke, especially in situations of sun exposure.

Furthermore, energy drinks are not recommended. Just like alcoholic beverages, they can lead to greater fluid loss. And due to their ability to increase heart rate, energy drinks further increase the risk of arrhythmias, one of the possible consequences of heat stress.

Therefore, if you choose to consume alcoholic beverages during the Madonna show or other events with high temperatures, the best thing to do is to alternate consumption with plenty of water.