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Here's what happens to the body in extreme temperatures — and how heat becomes deadly

Multiple organ failure, heart attack and kidney failure are the primary ways people die in extreme heat. Read on to find out how to stay safe in the heat wave.
It was 118 degrees after 5 p.m. in Phoenix, Arizona on July 18, 2023. More than 80 million people have been under heat warnings, as relentless temperatures continue to bake the western and southern U.S.

Of all extreme weather conditions, heat is the most deadly. It kills more people in the U.S. in an average year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined. The human body has a built-in cooling mechanism – sweat. But that system can only do so much, especially in soaring temperatures with high humidity.

Here's a look at what happens to the human body in extreme temperatures – and the three main pathways to fatal consequences.

Organ failure caused by heatstroke

When the surrounding temperatures approach your internal body temperature – which is about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

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