A chest diseases specialist warned that a severe heat wave sweeping across Europe is expected to affect Türkiye as well, urging people – especially young adults – to be cautious with strenuous outdoor activity in extreme temperatures.
Professor of chest diseases Şevket Özkaya said hospitals across Europe and Türkiye are already under growing pressure as emergency services report record levels of demand. He said there has been a noticeable rise in admissions for heat-related illness, including heart attacks and respiratory distress, with a significant share involving younger patients.
“In recent days, we have seen a sharp increase in life-threatening emergency cases,” Özkaya said, noting that ambulance services are experiencing unusually heavy workloads in both Europe and Türkiye. He added that heat-related cardiac and respiratory complaints have increased by about one-third among young people.
He said extreme heat places a major strain on the body, forcing the heart to work harder and faster than normal.
“Hot weather increases the workload on the heart and puts stress on the entire system,” he said, warning against heavy exercise during the hottest parts of the day.
