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Extremely high fever: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is hyperpyrexia?

Normal body temperature is typically 98.6°F (37°C). However, slight fluctuations can occur throughout the day. For example, your body temperature is lowest in the early hours of the morning and highest in the late afternoon.

You’re considered to have a fever when your body temperature rises a few degrees above normal. This is typically defined as 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

In some cases, your body temperature can rise greatly above its normal temperature due to things other than fever. This is referred to as hyperthermia.

When your body temperature exceeds 106°F (41.1°C) due to a fever, you’re considered to have hyperpyrexia.

Call your doctor if you or your child has a temperature of 103 degrees or higher. You should always seek emergency medical care for a fever if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:

  • temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in children under three months of age
  • irregular breathing
  • confusion or sleepiness
  • seizures or convulsions
  • severe headache
  • skin rash
  • persistent vomiting
  • severe diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • stiff neck
  • pain while urinating

In addition to a fever of 106°F (41. 1°C) or higher, symptoms of hyperpyrexia can include:

  • increased or irregular heart rate
  • muscle spasms
  • rapid breathing
  • seizures
  • confusion or changes in mental state
  • loss of consciousness
  • coma

Hyperpyrexia is considered to be a medical emergency. If left untreated, organ damage and death can occur. Always seek immediate medical attention.

Infection

Various severe bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections can lead to hyperpyrexia.

Infections that can cause hyperpyrexia include but are not limited to:

  • S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and H. influenzae bacterial infections
  • enterovirus and influenza A viral infections
  • malaria infection

Sepsis can also cause hyperpyrexia. Sepsis is a life-threatening complication from an infection. In sepsis, your body releases a variety of compounds into your bloodstream to help fight infection. This can sometimes produce a severe inflammatory response that can lead to organ damage and failure.

In order to diagnose an infectious cause of hyperpyrexia, your doctor will take a sample to test for the presence of microorganisms. Depending on the nature of the suspected infection, this sample could be a blood sample, urine sample, stool sample, or sputum sample. Your doctor can then identify the infectious agent using various culture or molecular methods.

Anesthesia

In rare circumstances, exposure to some anesthetic drugs can cause extremely high body temperature. This is referred to as malignant hyperthermia (sometimes called malignant hyperpyrexia).

Being prone to malignant hyperthermia is hereditary, which means that it can be passed from parent to child.

Malignant hyperthermia can be diagnosed by testing a sample of muscle tissue. If you have a relative who has malignant hyperpyrexia, you should consider being tested for the condition.

Other drugs

In addition to anesthesia drugs, use of certain prescription drugs can lead to conditions in which hyperpyrexia is a symptom.

An example of one such condition is serotonin syndrome. This potentially life-threatening condition can be caused by serotonergic drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Another example is neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which can be caused by a reaction to antipsychotic drugs.

Additionally, some recreational drugs, such as MDMA (ecstasy), can cause hyperpyrexia.

Symptoms for these conditions typically develop shortly after exposure to the drug.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and review your history of exposure to specific drugs to diagnose drug-related hyperpyrexia.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is when your body overheats to dangerous levels. This can be caused by overexerting yourself in a hot environment. Additionally, people who have difficulty regulating their body temperature may develop heat stroke. This can include older adults, very young children, or individuals with chronic illnesses.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination to diagnose heat stroke. Since heat stroke and dehydration can stress the kidneys, they may also test your kidney function.

Thyroid storm

Thyroid storm is a rare condition that can occur when thyroid hormones are overproduced.

Early identification and treatment of thyroid storm are essential. Your doctor will use your medical history, symptoms, and lab tests to confirm thyroid storm.

In newborns

Hyperpyrexia is rare in infants. However, an infant with hyperpyrexia may be at risk for a serious bacterial infection.

Several studieshaveindicated an association with high fever and risk of serious bacterial infection in very young infants.

If your child is under 3 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F or higher, it’s very important that they receive prompt medical attention.

Hyperpyrexia, or fever of 106°F or higher, is a medical emergency. If the fever is not lowered, organ damage and death can result.

In fact, if you’re experiencing a fever of 103°F or higher with other significant symptoms, it’s important that you seek immediate medical care.

Your doctor will work quickly to diagnose what’s causing your high fever. They’ll work to safely lower the fever before serious complications occur.

Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is hyperpyrexia?

Normal body temperature is typically 98.6°F (37°C). However, slight fluctuations can occur throughout the day. For example, your body temperature is lowest in the early hours of the morning and highest in the late afternoon.

You’re considered to have a fever when your body temperature rises a few degrees above normal. This is typically defined as 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

In some cases, your body temperature can rise greatly above its normal temperature due to things other than fever. This is referred to as hyperthermia.

When your body temperature exceeds 106°F (41.1°C) due to a fever, you’re considered to have hyperpyrexia.

Call your doctor if you or your child has a temperature of 103 degrees or higher. You should always seek emergency medical care for a fever if you’re experiencing the following symptoms:

  • temperature of 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher in children under three months of age
  • irregular breathing
  • confusion or sleepiness
  • seizures or convulsions
  • severe headache
  • skin rash
  • persistent vomiting
  • severe diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • stiff neck
  • pain while urinating

In addition to a fever of 106°F (41.1°C) or higher, symptoms of hyperpyrexia can include:

  • increased or irregular heart rate
  • muscle spasms
  • rapid breathing
  • seizures
  • confusion or changes in mental state
  • loss of consciousness
  • coma

Hyperpyrexia is considered to be a medical emergency. If left untreated, organ damage and death can occur. Always seek immediate medical attention.

Infection

Various severe bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections can lead to hyperpyrexia.

Infections that can cause hyperpyrexia include but are not limited to:

  • S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and H. influenzae bacterial infections
  • enterovirus and influenza A viral infections
  • malaria infection

Sepsis can also cause hyperpyrexia. Sepsis is a life-threatening complication from an infection. In sepsis, your body releases a variety of compounds into your bloodstream to help fight infection. This can sometimes produce a severe inflammatory response that can lead to organ damage and failure.

In order to diagnose an infectious cause of hyperpyrexia, your doctor will take a sample to test for the presence of microorganisms. Depending on the nature of the suspected infection, this sample could be a blood sample, urine sample, stool sample, or sputum sample. Your doctor can then identify the infectious agent using various culture or molecular methods.

Anesthesia

In rare circumstances, exposure to some anesthetic drugs can cause extremely high body temperature. This is referred to as malignant hyperthermia (sometimes called malignant hyperpyrexia).

Being prone to malignant hyperthermia is hereditary, which means that it can be passed from parent to child.

Malignant hyperthermia can be diagnosed by testing a sample of muscle tissue. If you have a relative who has malignant hyperpyrexia, you should consider being tested for the condition.

Other drugs

In addition to anesthesia drugs, use of certain prescription drugs can lead to conditions in which hyperpyrexia is a symptom.

An example of one such condition is serotonin syndrome. This potentially life-threatening condition can be caused by serotonergic drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Another example is neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which can be caused by a reaction to antipsychotic drugs.

Additionally, some recreational drugs, such as MDMA (ecstasy), can cause hyperpyrexia.

Symptoms for these conditions typically develop shortly after exposure to the drug.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and review your history of exposure to specific drugs to diagnose drug-related hyperpyrexia.

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is when your body overheats to dangerous levels. This can be caused by overexerting yourself in a hot environment. Additionally, people who have difficulty regulating their body temperature may develop heat stroke. This can include older adults, very young children, or individuals with chronic illnesses.

Your doctor will perform a physical examination to diagnose heat stroke. Since heat stroke and dehydration can stress the kidneys, they may also test your kidney function.

Thyroid storm

Thyroid storm is a rare condition that can occur when thyroid hormones are overproduced.

Early identification and treatment of thyroid storm are essential. Your doctor will use your medical history, symptoms, and lab tests to confirm thyroid storm.

In newborns

Hyperpyrexia is rare in infants. However, an infant with hyperpyrexia may be at risk for a serious bacterial infection.

Several studieshaveindicated an association with high fever and risk of serious bacterial infection in very young infants.

If your child is under 3 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F or higher, it’s very important that they receive prompt medical attention.

Hyperpyrexia, or fever of 106°F or higher, is a medical emergency. If the fever is not lowered, organ damage and death can result.

In fact, if you’re experiencing a fever of 103°F or higher with other significant symptoms, it’s important that you seek immediate medical care.

Your doctor will work quickly to diagnose what’s causing your high fever. They’ll work to safely lower the fever before serious complications occur.

Temperature rise above 37 degrees

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One of the most common symptoms of inflammatory, infectious and other diseases is elevated body temperature. It rises in response to a violation of the normal activity of internal organs and tissues. In some cases, the temperature indicates that the body’s immune forces have entered the fight against infection, which, of course, is good. However, it is impossible to ignore the elevated temperature, since the cause can be hidden very deeply!

Subfebrile in medicine is a temperature that does not exceed 37-38 degrees. If it lasts for several days, especially for no apparent reason, then a visit to a medical institution should not be postponed! At home, it is completely impossible to identify the cause of the temperature. Therefore, we recommend making an appointment with a therapist in Kaliningrad right now – you can contact our Edkar clinic to undergo an examination and determine the cause of this symptom. With a simple disease, the doctor will prescribe treatment, with a dangerous one, he will refer you to a specialized specialist, which will allow you to maintain your health.


Causes

There are a lot of reasons for subfebrile temperature. In principle, it can indicate absolutely any disease of vital organs, damage to mucous membranes, tissues, pathological changes in body systems. Additional symptoms in this case are chills, general weakness, muscle aches, headaches, lethargy.

The most common causes of subfebrile temperature:

  • physiological factors – prolonged exposure to the sun, intense physical training;
  • moral exhaustion, which is associated with a change in the cerebral cortex;
  • allergy;
  • colds, respiratory diseases – SARS, influenza;
  • pathology of ENT organs – tonsillitis, otitis media, laryngitis, tonsillitis, chronic rhinitis, sinusitis;
  • diseases of the lower respiratory tract – bronchitis, pneumonia;
  • diseases caused by a viral infection – gastrointestinal pathologies, neurological infections, herpes;
  • immunodeficiency syndrome;
  • bacterial infections – tuberculosis, brucellosis;
  • helminth infestation;
  • hormonal disruptions in women during premenstrual symptoms or menopause;
  • inflammation of the intestines;
  • disorders of the endocrine system;
  • autoimmune diseases – rheumatism, arthritis;
  • malignant tumors;
  • postoperative period;
  • taking strong drugs.

Of the rare causes, an increase in body temperature above 37 degrees refers to the complicated consequences of exposure to viruses, abscesses, the development of caries, diseases of the urinary system – cystitis, urethritis. Rarely, but still, body temperature rises with nervous disorders.

If the subfebrile temperature goes away on its own within 1-2 days, then there is nothing to worry about. Most likely, it was caused by physical overstrain, which disrupted the thermoregulation of the body or a stressful situation. In all other cases, if the temperature is elevated for a long period of time, accompanied by additional symptoms, you should consult a therapist.

Even the usual respiratory diseases – ARVI, influenza (with persistent temperature) and other symptoms – runny nose, cough, fever, lethargy without medical help can turn into bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis and even pneumonia. Lesions of the upper and lower respiratory tract associated with the inflammatory process are characterized by general intoxication of the body. And this is extremely dangerous without the lack of competent therapy.

A very long subfebrile temperature is also characteristic of sluggish infections. For example, tuberculosis. Additionally, a person becomes very weak, loses the desire to work and live. The same is true for brucellosis. Pathologies are accompanied by excessive sweating, especially at night and require intensive medical treatment.

High hormonal synthesis in women is characterized by an increase in temperature above 37 degrees. Additionally disturbing irritability, aggressiveness, tearfulness. Also, similar signs are found in the development of neoplasms. High body temperature becomes chronic. The patient is accompanied by loss of appetite, rapid weight loss, sluggish, unhealthy appearance. Often, with malignant tumors, a person is tormented by sweating, especially at night, and swollen lymph nodes.


Diagnosis and treatment

There are plenty of reasons for a temperature rise above 37 degrees. Therefore, the most important task of physicians is to determine the root cause of this symptom. To do this, a thorough diagnosis is carried out, using instrumental, laboratory research methods and precise medical equipment. Primary diagnosis is carried out by a general practitioner – therapist. He directs the patient to take blood and urine tests, listens to complaints and draws up a clinical picture. If certain diseases are suspected – lesions of the ENT organs, gastrointestinal disorders, tumors, the doctor refers the patient to a specialized specialist – an otolaryngologist, oncologist, immunologist or another.

Diagnostic examinations at elevated temperature include:

  • fluoroscopy – to detect pathologies of the lower and upper respiratory tract;
  • ultrasound screening – assessment of the state of the abdominal cavity, joints, endocrine system;
  • bacteriological cultures – taking a smear of mucous membranes allows you to identify many diseases;
  • invasive examinations;
  • additional methods.

If you have a low-grade fever, you should not take antipyretic drugs until the diagnosis is made and the doctor prescribes therapy. Before contacting a therapist, drinking plenty of clean water, fruit drinks, compotes will help to improve the condition. They help the body flush out toxins and prevent dehydration. Tea and coffee are best avoided. Food should be light, filled with useful vitamins and minerals. If possible, physical activity should be excluded and bed rest should be observed.

Depending on the diagnosis, the patient is given antibiotics if the cause is an infection. Rheumatic pathologies are removed with non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs. With hormonal surges and menopause, appropriate medications are prescribed to eliminate negative manifestations. Malignant and benign tumors require treatment with cytostatics, which are used in combination with radiation therapy.

In some cases, such as inflammation of the intestines or a malignant tumor in the lymphatic system, the patient is scheduled for surgery. The same applies to leukemia, where the surgical intervention is a bone marrow transplant.

It is very important to identify the problem at an early stage in the development of serious pathological lesions. It is the elevated body temperature that is the signal, ignoring which leads to an advanced or chronic stage. For a consultation with a therapist of our medical center in Kaliningrad regarding prolonged subfebrile temperature, sign up at the indicated phone numbers or through an online application. The sooner you understand what your body wants to say, the more likely it is to completely heal and stay healthy for many years.

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Heat knockout. Extreme heat kills Europeans

https://ria.ru/20220727/pogoda-1805151074.html

Thermal knockout. Extreme heat kills Europeans

Heat knockout. Extreme heat kills Europeans – RIA Novosti, 07/27/2022 Extreme heat kills Europeans

The jump in European thermometers in July has given rise to alarmist forecasts. Many scientists believe that deadly heat waves in the Northern … RIA Novosti, 07/27/2022

2022-07-27T08:00

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MOSCOW, July 27 – RIA Novosti, Nikolai Guryanov. The July jump in thermometers in Europe has given rise to alarmist forecasts. Many scientists believe that deadly heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere will become more frequent. But the statistics of weather records show that everything is not so clear with the climate future. breaks. In the movement along the latitudinal circle, “congestion” occurs: cyclones and anticyclones freeze in place for a long time, so in some parts of the hemisphere there is sizzling heat, and in others – cool and rainy weather. In July 2022, the blocking anticyclone lingered over Western Europe. The heat caused the main damage to the countries of the Iberian Peninsula – Spain and Portugal. “A powerful stable anticyclone for a long time was stationary over a certain territory. There was a very strong warm advection (moving in a horizontal direction. – Ed.) Hot tropical air. The result was extremely high temperatures – 45 degrees in Spain and 47 degrees in Portugal,” explains Mikhail Lokoshchenko, Leading Researcher at the Department of Meteorology and Climatology of the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University, Chief Specialist of the Meteo Forecast Center. the historical record was broken: 19July at Heathrow Airport in London, the air temperature reached 40.2 degrees. More than a thousand people died in Europe, mainly in the Pyrenees, due to the consequences of such weather. Now there are fears in the media that the prediction is coming true prematurely. In recent years, the Northern Hemisphere has been regularly subjected to heat shocks, and in different regions. In 2021, a weather anomaly hit the western part of North America, causing hundreds of human deaths, the mass death of coastal marine animals and large-scale forest fires. In 2020, Siberia turned into a tropical resort – in Verkhoyansk, one of the contenders for the title of “pole of cold”, a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius was recorded. Many experts believe that such phenomena will occur more often. According to a recent study by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the number of extreme heat waves in the Northern Hemisphere will increase by more than 30 percent in the coming years. The authors of the work found out the causes of last year’s heat in the US and Canada. They tested how the air temperature was affected by natural processes – for example, atmospheric circulation – and human impact. According to their findings, two-thirds of long-term warming in the region is due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases. However, Lokoshchenko believes that heat waves are not directly related to long-term climate change. This means that it is impossible to predict their increase in the coming years. “In many ways, this is just a coincidence. It is associated with a combination of synoptic processes, when different causes that cause an increase in air temperature are observed simultaneously, enter into resonance and mutually reinforce each other,” expert says. Not all records broken The climatologist admits that since global warming is really happening, the likelihood of such weather anomalies should increase. “But it is difficult to accurately assess it, because cases of truly catastrophic heat are extremely rare and the sample is too small for statistical analysis,” Lokoshchenko draws attention. We are talking about two episodes, against which the current heat looks pretty harmless. In 2003, 72,000 people died in Western Europe. France suffered the most. For example, in Auxerre, a city in the central part of the country, the temperature was above 40 degrees for several days in a row. The second case occurred in 2010 in the European part of Russia: the scorching heat that settled over the Central Russian Plain for almost two months claimed the lives of 55 thousand people. heat, withstood the previous maximum, recorded back in 1887. That is, an indicator of 33.3 degrees lasts 135 years. And now the temperature has not reached this mark a little. Thermal records in Moscow also happen infrequently. The maximum air temperature in the Russian capital was recorded on 29July 2010 – 38.2 degrees Celsius. The previous highest figure was in 1920. And over the past 12 years, the temperature in the capital has not even come close to the old record, let alone the new one. According to Lokoshchenko, if abnormal heat as a phenomenon were directly related to climate change, then its frequency would steadily increase from year to year indicators would be constantly updated. The very fact that records of maximum temperatures of a hundred years ago have not yet been broken indicates the absence of a direct connection, the expert is sure. Who is next Weather anomalies are like a lottery, or, better, Russian roulette. Western Europe was unlucky this summer. It is extremely difficult to predict who will be on the giant “frying pan” next time. “A blocking anticyclone is a double-edged sword. Extremely high air temperatures are observed in its western and central parts, but on the eastern periphery, on the contrary, it is cool and rainy. Therefore, if you are lucky – which side of the baric formation we find ourselves on, we will have such weather,” Lokoshchenko points out. cool weather. In 2010, when there was catastrophic heat in the European part of Russia (the Moscow region and neighboring regions were especially hard hit then), somewhere beyond the Urals, on the contrary, it was cold and rainy. As for the current heat in Central Russia, then, according to forecasts forecasters, by the end of the week it will decline.

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Science, Western Europe, Russia, Europe, Weather, Climate, Global warming, Warming, Heat in the center of Russia, Abnormal heat in Moscow in summer 2010

MOSCOW, July 27 – RIA Novosti, Nikolai Guryanov The July jump in thermometers in Europe has given rise to increased alarmist forecasts. Many scientists believe that deadly heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere will become more frequent. But the statistics of weather records show that everything is not so simple with the climate future.

Atmospheric congestion

Comfortable weather in the Northern Hemisphere is ensured by stable atmospheric circulation, when cyclones are replaced by anticyclones, so that neither extreme heat nor rains linger over a particular region for a long time.

However, sometimes the system breaks down. In movement along the latitudinal circle, “congestion” occurs: cyclones and anticyclones freeze in place for a long time, so in some parts of the hemisphere there is sizzling heat, and in others – cool and rainy weather.

In July 2022, a blocking anticyclone lingered over Western Europe. The heat caused the main damage to the countries of the Iberian Peninsula – Spain and Portugal.

“A powerful stable anticyclone has been stationary over a certain area for a long time. There was a very strong warm advection (moving in a horizontal direction. – Ed.) of hot tropical air. The result was extremely high temperatures – 45 degrees in Spain and 47 degrees in Portugal” , – explains the leading researcher of the Department of Meteorology and Climatology of the Faculty of Geography of Moscow State University, the chief specialist of the Meteo Prognostic Center Mikhail Lokoshchenko.

A little later, when the anticyclone began to move to the east and the heat wave covered the United Kingdom, a historical record was broken there: on July 19, at Heathrow Airport in London, the air temperature reached 40. 2 degrees. Due to the effects of such weather in Europe, more than a thousand people died, mainly in the Pyrenees.

The ice is melting between us. The United States has figured out how to push Russia on the Northern Sea Route

June 21, 2022, 08:00

Anomalies and disasters

Two years earlier, the British Meteorological Service issued a forecast according to which hot days will become a typical phenomenon for the country by 2050. Now there are fears in the media that the prediction is coming true prematurely.

In recent years, the Northern Hemisphere has been regularly subjected to heat shocks, and in different regions. In 2021, a weather anomaly hit the western part of North America, causing hundreds of human deaths, the mass death of coastal marine animals and large-scale forest fires. In 2020, Siberia turned into a tropical resort – in Verkhoyansk, one of the contenders for the title of “pole of cold”, a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius was recorded.

Many experts believe that such events will occur more often. According to a recent study by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the number of extreme heat waves in the Northern Hemisphere will increase by more than 30 percent in the coming years. The authors of the work found out the causes of last year’s heat in the US and Canada. They tested how the air temperature was affected by natural processes – for example, atmospheric circulation – and human impact. According to their findings, two-thirds of the long-term warming in the region is due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases.

However, Lokoshchenko believes that heat waves are not directly related to long-term climate change. This means that it is impossible to predict their increase in the coming years.

“In many ways, this is just a coincidence. It is associated with a combination of synoptic processes, when different causes that cause an increase in air temperature are observed simultaneously, enter into resonance and mutually reinforce each other,” the expert says.

The planet is in danger. Four new climate records set

May 20, 2022, 08:00

Not all records broken

Climatologist admits that since global warming is indeed happening, the likelihood of such weather anomalies should increase. “But it is difficult to accurately assess it, because cases of truly catastrophic heat are extremely rare and the sample is too small for statistical analysis,” Lokoshchenko draws attention.

We are talking about two episodes, against which the current heat looks quite harmless. In 2003, 72,000 people died in Western Europe. France suffered the most. For example, in Auxerre, a city in the central part of the country, the temperature was above 40 degrees for several days in a row. The second case occurred in 2010 in the European part of Russia: the hell that settled over the Central Russian Plain for almost two months claimed the lives of 55 thousand people.

A girl on Red Square in the summer of 2010

The scientist recalls that although the century-long air temperature record was broken in the United Kingdom, in neighboring Ireland, despite the abnormal heat, the previous maximum, recorded back in 1887, withstood. That is, an indicator of 33.3 degrees lasts 135 years. And now the temperature has not reached this mark.

Heat records in Moscow also happen infrequently. The maximum air temperature in the Russian capital was recorded on 29July 2010 – 38.2 degrees Celsius. The previous highest figure was in 1920. And over the past 12 years, the temperature in the capital has not even come close to the old record, let alone the new one.

According to Lokoshchenko, if the abnormal heat as a phenomenon were directly related to climate change, then its frequency would steadily increase from year to year and the indicators would be constantly updated. The very fact that records of maximum temperatures of a hundred years ago have not yet been broken indicates the absence of a direct connection, the expert is sure.

“The most powerful in five years.” Is it possible to protect yourself from a solar flare? Western Europe was unlucky this summer. It is extremely difficult to predict who will be on the giant “frying pan” next time.