The Midwest is experiencing rising temperatures this week as heat waves roll in more often and deadly across the US
Experts who study the link between climate change and health say that extreme heat is not just an inconvenience.
“The biggest challenge in this country is making sure people know that extreme heat is a matter of life and death,” he said. Vijay Limayeepidemiologist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Extreme heat killed more people in 2022 than any other severe weather event such as hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. Looking at the 10-year and 30-year averages of such deaths, the same is true – extreme heat was the deadliest.
Children and people over 65 face more risks during extreme temperatures.
Across the US, more than 700 people die from heat-related health problems each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Limaye said those numbers are an undercount.
“We know in public health and epidemiology that this number is a serious underestimate. Existspeer review indicating that we may be underestimating the health effects of heat by a factor of up to 50,” he said.
The public health burden of extreme heat exceeds the direct fatality of heat-related deaths. People who have pre-existing conditions such as asthma, heart disease and obesity can experience life-threatening complications due to excessive heat.
For example, during a heat wave more blood is directed to the skin, which lowers a person's blood pressure and increases their heart rate. This results in the heart needing more oxygen to keep up, which strains the heart and, in the elderly and people with cardiovascular disease, can lead to a heart attack.
Socioeconomic vulnerabilities
The place where a person lives could make them more vulnerable to heat extremes. Temperatures in low-income urban neighborhoods can be one to seven points higher than the regional average.
These urban hotspots, referred to as thermal islands, result from a combination of factors unique to densely populated urban areas, such as more concrete buildings, roads, sidewalks, and less greenery. Often lower income neighborhoods lack of adequate vegetation offered by parks and green spaces, which leaves residents vulnerable to prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
People live in lower income neighborhoods buildings with poor insulation and ventilationwhich can make the house warmer than the outside.
A warmer environment not only endangers the physical and mental health of the inhabitants, also aggravates the financial burdens. People who already are is struggling financially they are less likely to seek medical attention for heat-related health problems, Limaye said.
Protecting yourself
The The Indiana Department of Health recommends putting cardboard or reflective materials on windows to reflect the sun's rays and installing weather draft on doors and windows to keep warm air out and cool air in.
Public health authorities also recommend staying hydrated, seeking shade and avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours to reduce health risks.
Individuals should also be on alert early symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These include dizziness, lack of sweat, headaches and nausea. If a person experiences these symptoms, they should get out of the heat and wet their clothes and skin to cool down faster.
Side Effects Public Media is a health reporting partnership based at WFYI in Indianapolis. We work with NPR stations throughout the Midwest and surrounding areas — including KBIA in Missouri, Iowa Public Radio and WFPL in Kentucky.
Contact Side Effects Public Media health reporter Alex Li at ali@wfyi.org.
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