How much damage can extreme heat do? What to know about Oklahoma's extreme heat this week

Excessive heat will scorch Oklahoma for a second week as the summer's first heat wave continues.

With temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees nearly every day, humans are at high risk for heat stroke or other types of heat-related stress. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hotter temperatures raise the risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and breathing problems, and those with disabilities and chronic health conditions are especially vulnerable.

Oklahoma will experience extreme heat this week

On Sunday, most of Oklahoma faced an "extreme risk" from the wet bulb globe temperature, which is named after the device used to measure it.

There are multiple ways to measure how the heat will affect the body. The more commonly used measurement is the heat index, which calculates a score based on the air temperature and relative humidity. Another more detailed measurement is the "wet bulb globe temperature," which also measures sunlight and wind speed.

At its most basic level, it's the temperature measurement taken from a thermometer covered with a wet cloth. As water evaporates from the cloth, that evaporation cools the thermometer. This mirrors how the human body cools itself with sweat.

Laura Reinhart, interim director of family medicine with Variety Care, said the major symptoms of heat exhaustion include a fast pulse, heavy sweating and clammy skin. A thermometer reading will also show an elevated body temperature.

"At that point, where you're seeing signs of heat exhaustion, you want to try to move indoors right then because you don't want to see it become heat stroke," Reinhart said.

Based on the extreme heat forecast for Oklahoma this week, the National Weather Service recommends working or exercising outside in direct sunlight for only 15 to 20 minutes at a time, followed by about 45 minutes of resting and cooling off.

What happens to my body when I'm overheating? Heat stroke, exhaustion

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the most serious heat-related illness is heat stroke, when the body can no longer control its temperature. The body’s temperature can rapidly rise to 106 degrees or higher in just a few minutes if the sweating mechanism fails and your body is unable to cool down.

Heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which can cause permanent disability or death if the person does not receive emergency treatment. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, loss of consciousness and seizures.

Reinhart said excessive heat also can cause trouble for diabetic patients and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Is it just going to get worse from here? Heat, tornadoes

Meteorologists cite climate change for the worsening heat, reports USA Today, but the shift also could bring other forms of inclement weather.

According to current research from the U.S. Global Change Research Program, an increase in atmospheric heat will bring changes for tornado season. Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water, we'll see "longer and more frequent droughts and less frequent but more severe precipitation events and cyclonic activity," the program reports.

This means tornadoes will become fewer and farther between, but Oklahomans can expect to see more F4, F5 and other high-intensity storms when they do occur.