“Rising Temperatures, Rising Costs: The Health Care Burden of Extreme Heat Waves”

Extreme heat, exacerbated by climate change, is wreaking havoc across the United States and beyond. In recent weeks, a late-spring hot spell forced schools in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Great Lakes regions to close early, while Puerto Rico experienced record-breaking temperatures, with the heat index reaching a scorching 125 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, deadly storms and power outages hit areas from Texas to Louisiana due to extreme heat.

The health impacts of extreme heat are severe, leading to a rise in hospitalizations for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory diseases, particularly among the urban poor who lack access to air conditioning and green spaces. A new report from the Center for American Progress estimates that extreme heat will result in $1 billion in health care-related costs in the U.S. this summer alone, with nearly 235,000 emergency department visits and over 56,000 hospital admissions expected nationwide.

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University analyzed health insurance claims in Virginia during extreme heat days from 2016 to 2020, finding that heat-related illnesses led to hundreds of outpatient care visits, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions each summer. The burden of extreme heat disproportionately affects low-income and marginalized communities, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to protect vulnerable populations.

Cities are already taking steps to adapt to extreme heat, such as using heat-reflecting building materials, subsidizing power bills for low-income residents, and planting trees to provide shade and lower temperatures. Improved forecasting of extreme heat events and clearer communication about heat illness symptoms are also crucial for public health preparedness.

While the report sheds light on the health care costs of extreme heat, experts emphasize the need for more comprehensive assessments that consider long-term economic impacts and the effects on businesses, infrastructure, and other aspects of society. Addressing climate change and proactively mitigating its effects are essential to safeguarding public health and building resilience against extreme weather events.

This news post, originally published by Grist, underscores the urgent need for action to combat the escalating impacts of extreme heat driven by climate change. It is part of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now, aimed at enhancing climate change coverage and raising awareness of its far-reaching consequences.