“Deadly Consequences: How Extreme Heat is Impacting Heart Health in the US”

Extreme heat is not only uncomfortable, but it can also have deadly consequences, especially for the heart. A recent report published in the journal Circulation highlights the potential increase in heat-related cardiovascular deaths in the United States over the next few decades due to climate change.

Between 2008 and 2019, the heat index in the US reached at least 90 degrees on an average of 54 days each summer. This extreme heat was associated with nearly 1,700 excess cardiovascular deaths each year. If fossil-fuel development continues unchecked and minimal efforts are made to reduce planet-warming pollution, the number of heat-related cardiovascular deaths could more than triple to about 5,500 per year.

Even with more plausible climate change mitigation measures in place, there could still be a significant increase in heat-related mortality. The study projects a jump to 71 days of extreme heat per year and a 2.6 times increase in heart-related mortality by the middle of the century.

Dr. Lawrence Fine, a senior adviser at the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of increased temperatures and heart disease. He highlighted the need for vulnerable individuals to have a specific plan for dealing with extreme heat.

The study’s findings are based on projections for the years 2036 through 2065, taking into account population growth, migration trends, and greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis indicates that Black adults, seniors, and those living in urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

In recent years, heat-related fatalities in the US have been on the rise. In 2022, more than 1,700 deaths were attributed to heat-related causes, more than doubling over the past five years. Experts believe this data is likely an underestimate due to the challenges of documenting extreme heat exposure.

Dr. Sameed Khatana, an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at Penn Medicine, explained how the heart is particularly susceptible to the effects of heat. The heart works harder to regulate the body’s temperature, and for individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, this increased demand can be deadly.

Black adults, seniors, and those living in metropolitan areas are projected to be disproportionately affected by heat-related cardiovascular deaths. Demographic shifts in the US, such as an aging population and urban growth, could exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.

Dr. Khatana emphasized the importance of targeted solutions for vulnerable populations and the need for climate change mitigation efforts to address health equity issues. Without action to reduce emissions and protect vulnerable individuals, the inequities seen in heat-related mortality may continue to widen.