The rising health danger of extreme heat

As the frequency of heatwaves increases, so does the pressure on individuals and healthcare systems

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on the bmj

In 2017 the World Health Organization reported that 166,000 people had died of heat stress, worldwide, in the previous 20 years. The UN predicts that, from 2030 to 2050, climate change will cause around 250 000 additional deaths a year, worldwide, due to the rise in malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.

Extreme heat can cause exhaustion and heatstroke, a condition that occurs when your body temperature rises above 40C; this can damage your brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. Heat can also cause severe dehydration and acute cerebrovascular accidents.

Who is at risk?

Older people and children are at greater risk of complications linked to heat stress, as well as people with chronic diseases or those who take daily medicines and may not know to adjust the dose. Studies have also found higher risks in pregnant women.

Action plans

The 2005-07 EuroHEAT project, co-ordinated by the World Meteorological Organization Europe, and funded by the European Commission, quantified health effects in European cities and identified options for improving health systems’ preparedness.

England and Wales produced plans in 2004 for a heat health warning system.

Methods to tackle heat stress include adaptations to the built environment and architecture, awareness campaigns, the monitoring of vulnerable people and improving healthcare readiness.