Dr Aurora Dollenberg Warns of Temperatures Above 40 Degrees: Risks to the Brain, Heart and Use of Blood Pressure Medication

Extreme temperatures sweeping across Europe, from the Mediterranean to northern countries such as Germany, are placing a significant strain on public health. Speaking live to News24, Albanian doctor Dr Aurora Dollenberg, who practises in Germany, said heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in the sun has led to a sharp increase in emergency room visits, hospital admissions and, unfortunately, deaths.

According to her, northern European countries are also facing a lack of suitable infrastructure. Homes and institutions there were designed for long winter periods and heating, but do not have effective cooling systems to cope with weeks of scorching temperatures.

The brain is the first to react to overheating

Dr Dollenberg compared the human body to a biomachine that becomes overheated. When outdoor temperatures exceed 40 degrees, the difference from the body’s normal temperature of 37 degrees becomes considerable. To lower its temperature, the body increases sweating by up to three times, causing blood to move away from vital organs and towards the skin. As a result, the brain receives less blood and oxygen, making it the first organ to stop functioning normally.

The initial signs are severe headaches, dizziness, irritability, mental confusion and disorientation. Nausea and vomiting, according to the doctor, directly indicate a drop in blood pressure in the brain. The heart may then be affected, potentially leading to heart failure, as may the kidneys. This also explains why people go to the toilet less often during the summer, as fluids are lost through the skin.

Children and the elderly are most exposed

Children and people over the age of 65 become dehydrated very quickly, making paediatric and geriatric emergencies the main cases during the summer period.

Because children are often unable to express their symptoms, parents should notice whether they become apathetic, play less, feel exhausted, sleep more than usual or have completely dry skin. Loss of consciousness and collapse are the final warning signs of heatstroke.

The doctor focused particularly on elderly people with hypertension, stressing that blood pressure or diabetes medication should not be taken at the same dosage during days of extreme heat. Sweating causes blood pressure to fall naturally. If the patient continues taking blood pressure medication, readings may drop drastically, leading to fainting and loss of consciousness.

Dr Aurora Dollenberg stated that patients are advised, when temperatures are so extreme and blood pressure falls below 12, to stop these medications for several days or weeks. According to her, the medication should only be resumed when blood pressure begins to rise above 14.