Swifties everywhere were shocked last month when it was revealed that a young woman had died at a Taylor Swift concert.
The fan, 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides, fainted during the second song during the show in Brazil.
She later died in hospital of cardiovascular shock and pulmonary haemorrhage.
Her tragic death is believed to be related to the evening’s extreme temperatures, which reached 140 degrees Fahrenheit inside the stadium.
Now coroners have confirmed Ms Benevides’ cause of death as heat exhaustion – A condition that occurs when the body overheats and cannot cool down.
Ana Benevides (pictured) died of heat exhaustion after falling ill during a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro on November 17. The autopsy report found that the extreme heat exposure caused her to go into cardiac arrest and severely damaged her lungs.
While you might think sweltering temperatures are necessary to cause heat exhaustion, experts say you don’t have to be sunbathing in 100 degrees to suffer from a heat-related illness — although it’s usually not fatal at this point.
When the “feels like” temperature — or “heat index” — rises above 80 degrees, it can be enough to cause symptoms of heat exhaustion, including fatigue, dizziness and fainting — the stage before it becomes fatal, according to Dr. .Sterling Ransone, a practicing therapist. General practitioner in Deltaville, Virginia.
However, according to the National Weather Service, this temperature can have fatal consequences if it is accompanied by physical activity for several hours.
When the heat index drops between 103 and 124 degrees, a person is extremely likely to experience the potentially fatal typical symptoms of heat exhaustion, including low blood pressure.
Experts say this is most likely at temperatures above 125 degrees.
The heat index in the Brazilian stadium reportedly reached 140 degrees.
In Texas and Florida, heat indices repeatedly reached triple digits last summer.
A recent study made a dire prediction that the heat index will reach 125 degrees in most Texas counties at least once a year for the next thirty years.
Although there is no “magic” temperature at which heat exhaustion occurs, it usually occurs when the body’s core temperature rises from a normal baseline of about 98.6 degrees to about 104 degrees.
But it is not only the high temperatures that cause the problem.
Lack of fluids and physical exhaustion – for example from dancing or running – can also increase the risk of illness.
If enough water is not absorbed to replenish the sweat extracted, the body’s natural temperature regulation system stops working.
The doctor explains the differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion
Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke are caused by your body being exposed to too much heat. It is possible to catch diseases indoors and outdoors, even when it is not sunny.
This fluid imbalance can also disrupt the balance of our electrolytes: essential salts that maintain cell function.
It worsens symptoms of heat-related illnesses, including exhaustion and heat stroke.
The human body has a narrow temperature range within which it can perform vital functions, approximately between 37°C and 37.8°C.
When the core body temperature is outside this range, vital functions such as a healthy heart and lungs do not function properly.
Blood vessels near the skin dilate to dissipate heat and regulate body temperature.
This can cause a drop in blood pressure, which becomes worse with dehydration.
Low blood pressure causes the heart to increase blood flow by increasing the heart rate to more than 100 beats per minute.
In this way, the body ensures that sufficient oxygen and nutrients reach the tissues.
Over time, this puts an overload on the heart, which has to work overtime to pump blood effectively. If the circulatory system cannot deliver enough oxygen and nutrients, the heart can go into shock.
Fans at the November 17 show were exposed to temperatures – the heat index at Nilton Santos Stadium exceeded 140°F – and security prohibited fans from bringing their own water. Firefighters at the concert reported that at least 1,000 fans fainted from the heat
Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, nausea, pulse changes, muscle cramps and weakness, dizziness and fainting.
To treat heat exhaustion, doctors usually have the person drink cold water, loosen or remove tight clothing, and cool the person by spraying or humidifying cold water and fans.
Although heat exhaustion can happen to anyone, it most affects older people and people with pre-existing high blood pressure.
Ms. Benevides, a psychology student from Rondonópolis, Brazil, died of alveolar hemorrhage, a rupture of the blood vessels supplying the lungs, and polyvisceral congestion, paralysis of the lungs caused by the extreme heat.
According to a forensic report, she also had no previous illnesses or substance abuse that could have led to her death.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to excessive water and salt loss. This can put strain on the heart, which must compensate for a drop in blood pressure caused by dehydration and high internal temperatures
She was among at least a thousand fans who fainted from the heat at the Nov. 17 concert, according to firefighters at the venue, where the heat index exceeded 140 degrees and security guards prohibited fans from bringing their own water.
The heat was so extreme that Swift struggled to breathe, even between songs.
The 34-year-old singer, who is dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, shared her heartbreak on social media shortly after the concert, telling fans: “I can’t tell you how devastated this makes me.” … There is very little information other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and way too young.”
“I won’t be able to talk about it on stage because I would be overwhelmed with grief if I even tried to talk about it… I want to say now that I feel this loss deeply.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
