Extreme heat more dangerous for people 60 and over than previously thought
Study finds older adults could face harmful heat stress at just 1.5C of warming above preindustrial levels People aged 60 and over face dangers to their health from exposure to heat at much lower temperatures than previously thought, research has found. Older adults will bear the brunt of increasingly frequent sustained spells of extreme heat globally as the world continues to warm up, according…
New research reveals that people aged 60 and over are far more susceptible to harmful heat stress than previously believed, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health. The findings suggest that older adults could face health risks at temperatures as low as 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, compared to 4 degrees Celsius for younger adults.
This is due to older adults' reduced ability to sweat, their hearts working harder in the heat, and their blood vessels being less capable of expanding, limiting their capacity to cool down. Previous studies failed to account for the varying risks faced by different age groups, leading to an underestimation of the dangers for older adults.
With the global population of those aged 60 and over expected to double to 2.1 billion by 2050, the number of people at risk of heat-related health problems will increase significantly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like India and Pakistan. The study emphasizes the unequal impact of heatwaves on human health, with older adults being particularly vulnerable and facing more frequent and widespread exposure to heat stress.
Experts warn that extreme heat poses a significant threat to the health of older populations and can exacerbate existing medical conditions, making it a patient safety issue.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
