Temperatures are expected reach as high as 48 degrees in the Jordan Valley, 40 degrees in Jerusalem

By Pesach Benson, TPS

As Israel braces for an intense heat wave set to begin Friday, national authorities are ramping up preparations to safeguard the public from extreme temperatures and widespread humidity expected across the country.

Emergency services, energy providers, and environmental agencies have issued warnings and implemented precautionary measures as forecasters predict severe to extreme heat stress—even in typically cooler inland and mountainous regions.

“It will be long and difficult,” said meteorologist Lior Sodri. “This is a seasonal Persian trough, which brings with it northeasterly winds from the Iran region. In some areas, an increase of almost 10 degrees above the seasonal average is expected.”

According to Dr. Amir Givati, director of the Meteorological Service in Beit Dagan, extreme heat stress will impact the entire country, with temperatures approaching 40°C in many places.

He emphasized that this wave is unique for its combination of high heat and unusually widespread humidity.

Temperatures are expected reach as high as 48 degrees in the Jordan Valley, 40 degrees in Jerusalem

If temperatures rise as expected, mountain regions may exceed 40 degrees for the first time since 2020. Still, this event is not considered historic, and it does not break national heat records.

In a rare turn for August, forecasters also predict possible localized rainfall on Saturday and Sunday, particularly in the southern Negev and near the Israel-Egypt border. These showers could be heavy and may include thunderstorms.

Saturday and Sunday are expected to mark the peak, with oppressive humidity on the coastal plain and stifling heat further inland. “On the coastal plain, temperatures will not be particularly high, but the humidity will increase and increase the feeling of congestion,” added Sodri.

The Israel Meteorological Service predicts the heat will persist into next week, with potential for localized rain in the east and south on Sunday afternoon.

The combination of intense heat and humidity poses a serious health risk, especially to vulnerable populations such as infants, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions.

Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency responders are on high alert. “The heat wave that is expected to hit the country during the coming week requires public caution and vigilance,” said Dr. Rafael Strogo, MDA’s Deputy Chief of Medicine.

“I recommend drinking plenty of water and not spending extended periods of time in direct sunlight. It is especially important to pay attention to babies and toddlers traveling in cars—they should never be left in a closed vehicle, not even for a minute.”

MDA spokesman Zaki Heller noted that in past years, heat-related injuries have led to tragedy. “Our teams have treated many cases of heat injury—some of which ended in tragedy,” he warned.

The Israel Electric Company is also bracing for a surge in electricity demand. Officials urged people using life-saving medical devices to secure backup power or plan for evacuation in the event of an outage. Meanwhile, the Nature and Parks Authority has prohibited lighting fires in national parks to reduce the risk of wildfire.

Authorities continue to advise the public to stay indoors during the hottest hours, remain hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, and follow updates from official weather services.

Temperatures will also soar in Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

The post Israel issues health, safety alerts ahead of upcoming heat wave appeared first on World Israel News.

Tasks that require adaptability, self-monitoring, and responsiveness — skills integral to rehabilitation — become significantly harder for stroke survivors.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Although it is known that cognitive impairments impact stroke survivors, an Israeli study released on Wednesday specifically identifies the ability to understand and follow instructions as a foundational element for motor recovery and rehabilitation success.

The findings are expected to lead to more personalized treatment and integration of technology into rehabilitation.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or significantly reduced, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, usually the result of a clot or bleeding.

This can result in the death of brain cells within minutes, leading to potentially severe and lasting physical and cognitive damage.

According to the World Stroke Organization, in 2019, there were approximately 12.2 million new stroke cases globally, while 101 million survivors were living with the aftermath of one.

A team of researchers from the Joint Laboratory for Neurological Rehabilitation Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Negev Nahalat Eran Hospital uncovered new insights into the interplay between cognitive impairments and motor recovery after a stroke.

The findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal, Neuropsychology.

Dr. Reut Binyamin-Netzer and Prof. Lior Shmuelof from Ben-Gurion University’s Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences led the study, which sought to understand how stroke affects the ability to follow instructions and identify the cognitive skills that underpin this capability.

They focused on the cognitive processes that enable patients to learn and execute therapeutic tasks.

According to the study, cognitive impairments — such as memory deficits, attention problems, and reduced executive function — affect 72% of stroke survivors.

These challenges not only impair daily functioning but also hinder participation in rehabilitation programs.

One particularly troubling consequence of cognitive impairment is the difficulty in learning and following instructions.

Tasks that require adaptability, self-monitoring, and responsiveness — skills integral to rehabilitation — become significantly harder for stroke survivors.

Recognizing the importance of these abilities, the researchers focused their investigation on the link between cognitive deficits and motor recovery.

The study involved 31 stroke survivors and 36 age-matched control participants aged 55-75.

All participants completed a series of computerized tasks designed to evaluate their ability to respond to stimuli based on color and location, as well as their capacity for delayed response and symbol-based information processing.

The results revealed a notable decline in accuracy and reaction times among stroke survivors compared to the control group. Additionally, the stroke group exhibited slower information processing and reduced ability to delay responses.

Importantly, the researchers found a direct correlation between the ability to delay a response and the capacity to follow instructions.

“The ability to delay a response has a significant impact on patients’ participation in the rehabilitation process,” explained Binyamin-Netzer. “Understanding instructions is fundamental to motor recovery because rehabilitation relies on following structured tasks.”

The researchers advocate for early, intensive rehabilitation programs that leverage computerized technologies to enhance recovery. These interventions should focus on improving cognitive abilities, which are intricately linked to motor recovery.

Said Shmuelof, “In an era where video games and other technologies are central to rehabilitation, understanding the connection between cognitive functions and recovery is critical.”

The post Stroke survivors’ cognitive skills could unlock better recovery pathways, say Israeli researchers appeared first on World Israel News.