The first warm days of the year are also the most insidious for the body, since the risk of hyperthermia (excessive increase in internal temperature) and heat stroke is greater.
The series of adaptive mechanisms implemented by the body to prevent excessive increases in internal temperature is called acclimatization to the heat (or acclimatization).
Although the organism has immediate defense mechanisms against high environmental temperatures (just think of sweating), it takes 7-10 days for the heat acclimatization to be complete.
During acclimatization:
- increases blood flow to the skin to facilitate heat loss;
- increases the ability to produce sweat (which doubles after 10 days);
- body sweating is more uniform and homogeneous in the various skin areas;
- the amount of mineral salts present in the sweat is reduced (to reduce saline losses);
- cardio-circulatory adaptations occur (such as increased volume) to support arterial pressure and circulatory changes induced by skin vasodilation;
- the sweating threshold is reduced (thanks to the lower rise in body temperature in response to the same environmental conditions).
The acclimatization therefore guarantees a more effective and efficient thermoregulation, allowing to better tolerate the high temperatures.
After returning to temperate climates, functional adaptations of acclimatization tend to get lost over 2-3 weeks.
