As temperatures surpass human body limits, medical experts warn of rapid organ failure, heatstroke, and a surge in emergency patients exceeding 1,600 cases nationwide.

SEOUL — Record-breaking heatwaves reaching nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in regions such as Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, have placed South Korea under severe health alerts. Government officials, including Vice Minister Lee Byung-kwon of the Ministry of Startups and SMEs, conducted emergency safety checks at traditional markets in Seoul, inspecting air conditioning equipment to prevent heat exhaustion and fire hazards. However, beyond physical discomfort, public health authorities warn that prolonged exposure to extreme heat poses a catastrophic threat to human physiology, triggering systemic organ damage that can rapidly become fatal.

According to health data released this week, the number of patients treated for heat-related illnesses in South Korea has officially surpassed 1,600 this season. As ambient temperatures consistently exceed normal human body temperature—approximately 36.5°C—the body's primary thermoregulation mechanisms begin to fail entirely.

Under normal conditions, the human body maintains homeostasis by producing sweat and dilating cutaneous blood vessels to radiate excess heat into the surrounding air. However, when ambient temperatures cross the 36.5°C threshold, environmental heat is absorbed into the body rather than dissipated. This sudden breakdown in heat exchange causes core body temperatures to spike rapidly, placing severe physiological stress on vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young children, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Medical experts emphasize that the brain is among the first critical organs to suffer. High core temperatures cause cellular proteins within brain tissue to denature and alter their structural integrity, leading to severe nerve cell impairment. Without immediate cooling, patients quickly progress to severe heatstroke, suffering cognitive impairment, loss of consciousness, permanent neurological damage, or death.

Furthermore, the gastrointestinal system faces equally severe risks. In response to extreme heat, the body redirects blood flow toward the skin in a desperate attempt to cool down, drastically reducing blood supply to the small and large intestines. Ischemia and acute oxygen deprivation severely damage the delicate intestinal mucosal lining. This structural breakdown permits gut bacteria to cross the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream, triggering systemic sepsis and potentially fatal multiple organ failure.

Physicians stress that immediate intervention is necessary when warning signs appear. If an individual exhibits high fever, severe vomiting, an inability to urinate, muscle spasms, or altered mental states after heat exposure, they must be transported to an emergency room immediately.

To prevent heatstroke, rapid body cooling is critical. Victims should be moved to shaded or air-conditioned areas, with ice or cold packs applied directly to major blood vessels along the neck, armpits, and groin. Individuals are urged to drink water every 20 minutes even without feeling thirsty, and consume electrolyte solutions if sweating heavily. Avoiding peak midday heat and taking frequent rests in cooled environments remain vital defenses against heat illnesses.