Heat Waves Impact Much More Than Human Health

Were you one of the roughly 150 million Americans who were under severe heat alerts last week and yes, fall was approaching, but over the South and much of the nation's midsection last week, summer did not want to let go, and it brought record heat to a lot of places.

"One of the challenges we face is the very low awareness of that heat as a health risk,” said Christy Eby, health risk doctor at the University of Washington.  She added many of us here the warning of stay hydrated, do outside work in the early morning, etc.  She added we hear those things, but we don't think they apply to us. But the truth is. 

“The list of the most vulnerable during a heat wave is quite long,” Dr. Eby noted.

That list includes pregnant women, very young children, people with chronic medical conditions, outdoor workers, and the list goes on. But she says among the most vulnerable to heat stroke are people over 60 years. You would think that maybe older folks would handle heat better because they've had a lot of experience with heat waves in the past.

“But unfortunately, a natural part of the aging process is people become less well able to tell they're getting into trouble with the heat,” Dr. Eby said.  “Or less willing to admit it.” 

“So even if they know that it's hot outside, they don't necessarily make changes in their behavior that would help prevent heat stress,” she continued.

Which can go right into heat stroke.

“Heat stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical intervention. And even with medical intervention, the mortality rate is high,” Dr. Eby continued.  “And people who survive heat stroke often have lifelong consequences.”

Officially, it's estimated that heat kills about 700 Americans every year. Doctor eBay thinks the actual number is much higher than that, but that most deaths could be prevented with more efforts at programs, to increase awareness of the health risks of heat. 

But doctor Eby said the effects of more frequent and more severe heat waves go far beyond posing possible medical problems for individuals.

“We also need to think about environment. You have periods of very high temperatures. I live in the Pacific Northwest. That goes along with drought, that goes along with wildfires that affects air quality. And so you get these compounding and cascading risks that affect people but also affect livelihoods.”

Plus another effect. 

“We're seeing power disruptions with high temperatures,” she added 

And of course, power brownouts and blackouts make it even harder for people to survive severe heat outbreaks. And Dr. Eby said  until we do something about climate change, the heat situation is very likely to keep getting worse.

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