Tropical Nights From July 18 as Doctors Warn of Heat Wave
Serbia's weather service forecasts highs around and above 35 degrees this weekend and tropical nights from July 18. The Batut Institute and cardiologists warn about risks to the heart.
- Serbia's weather service forecasts mostly sunny, very hot weather for July 18 and 19, with highs around and above 35 degrees.
- From July 18 come tropical nights, when the temperature never drops below 20 degrees, so the body cannot rest.
- The Batut Institute defines a heat wave as 3 or more consecutive days above 32 degrees.
- Doctors advise 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and staying out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Is this weekend really going to hit us with a heat wave? Yes, and one that does not end when the sun goes down. Serbia’s Hydrometeorological Institute forecasts mostly sunny, very hot weather for July 18 and 19, with highs around and above 35 degrees. And the part that matters most for your health, tropical nights begin on July 18.
A tropical night is one where the low never drops below 20 degrees. It sounds harmless until you spend one without air conditioning, tossing in a pool of sweat. Your body gets no chance to cool down and rest, so fatigue piles up day after day. The Batut Institute defines a heat wave precisely: three or more consecutive days above 32 degrees. By that definition, we are walking straight into one.
Why does heat hit the heart hardest?
I am not writing this on a hunch, I am passing on what cardiologists are warning. High temperatures speed up the heart while lowering blood pressure, because the blood vessels dilate. In sensitive people that combination can trigger tachycardia, meaning a fast, irregular heartbeat. Add fluid loss through sweating and the heart is working under far harder conditions than you would think.
That is why doctors single out the risk groups. They are children under two, people over 60, chronic and heart patients, and diabetics. If someone in your household belongs to one of these groups, keep an eye on them these days. From experience I know how it goes: older people often will not complain and drink too little water, so they get dehydrated before they even feel thirsty.
How do you get through the heat wave safely?
There is no magic here, just practical steps you can use today. I drink, and I recommend, 8 to 10 glasses of water spread through the day in small sips, not two liters at once in the evening. Avoid the sun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. whenever you can, because that is when radiation is strongest. Choose light, pale cotton clothing that breathes and reflects heat.
Build one habit that is not only about you. Check in regularly on elderly neighbors who live alone, even with a phone call or a knock on the door. In heat waves it is exactly the isolated older people who are most vulnerable, because no one is there to notice if they feel unwell. A few minutes is enough.
If you work outdoors or exercise, move your tasks to early morning or the evening. Air-conditioned rooms are a relief, but do not step straight from an icy room into 35 degrees, because the sudden temperature swing puts extra strain on your blood vessels. Gradual is always smarter.
This kind of heat is not just small talk about the weather, it is a matter of the whole family’s health. Which of these tips will you put to use in your home first this weekend?
