Not every summer sees heat-related deaths in Malaga. In the summers of the last decade, there have been such incidents in 2025 (25), 2023 (94), 2021 (42), 2020 (52) and 2019 (15).
Pre-existing conditions
As a report by the DKV observatory for health and environment states, most deaths associated with high temperatures, beyond heatstrokes, "occur due to the aggravation of pre-existing conditions, which contributes to making extreme heat invisible as a health risk".
HM cardiologist Daniel Prieto says that the most vulnerable groups are people over 65, patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney or diabetes diseases; people who take diuretics, antihypertensives or certain psychotropic drugs; young children; outdoor workers; athletes and people in vulnerable situations or who live alone.
Dr Prieto links advanced age with dehydration, since older people have a reduced perception of thirst and a "lower kidney capacity to retain water". "In addition, many take diuretics or suffer from chronic diseases that increase the risk of dehydration. This is the origin of most hospital admissions in elderly people during the summer."
"In many cases, heat is not listed as the direct cause of death, but rather as the factor that triggers or aggravates a heart attack, stroke or exacerbation of a chronic illness. Therefore, the concept of 'heat-attributable mortality' is used, which includes both heatstroke and deaths indirectly related to the new temperatures," Dr Prieto explains.
Other conditions
The impact of heat on health doesn't stop there. "Extreme heat can also impact the nervous system, the kidneys, the respiratory system (worsening asthma and COPD), mental health through sleep disturbances, anxiety, stress and,ultimately, cognitive and physical performance," Dr Prieto says.
The heat and tropical nights can affect cardiovascular health. "High temperatures force the body to make a significant effort to adapt. To dissipate the heat, blood vessels dilate and the heart must increase cardiac output to maintain adequate circulation and promote heat loss through the skin. This represents a particularly significant overload for people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions."
"Intense heat promotes dehydration, which reduces blood volume and can cause hypotension, dizziness, fainting, heart rhythm disturbances and even decompensation of heart failure. Heat overload also affects the kidneys and can aggravate chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases," Dr Prieto says, adding that "sweltering nights, when the temperature does not drop below 20C, hinder physiological recovery and rest, maintaining continuous cardiovascular stress, especially in vulnerable individuals."
Heatstroke prevention
To prevent a heatstroke, Dr Prieto advises simple measures such as drinking water, even if you don't feel thirsty, avoiding physical activity during the hottest hours of the day, staying in cool or air-conditioned places, wearing light clothing and keeping a close eye on the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
A heatstroke is a medical emergency the most frequent symptoms of which are severe headache, dizziness and disorientation, confusion or altered level of consciousness, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse and rapid breathing. "In the most severe cases, seizures and loss of consciousness can occur," Dr Prieto warns.
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