Source: Fox News
Summary
A study presented at the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) congress found that extreme weather events, such as heat waves and cold snaps, are contributing to a rise in heart attacks and strokes. Researchers analyzed data from over 8 million residents of Eastern Poland between 2011 and 2020 and recorded over 573,000 major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The study found that both heat waves and cold snaps are dangerous, but they attack the body in different ways. Air pollution intensified the risks of extreme temperatures, and the data showed that approximately 13% of all cardiovascular deaths were attributed to pollution.
Our Reading
The advice sounds familiar. Climate change is driving extreme weather events, and the impact on cardiovascular health is becoming clearer. The study’s findings highlight the combined hazards of temperature extremes and air pollution on increasing cardiovascular events. The fact that monthly increases in pollution exposure were particularly dangerous for demographics often considered lower risk is a notable concern. The study’s results challenge the traditional risk factor paradigm about which groups of individuals are most susceptible.
Extreme weather and air pollution are not new concerns, but the study’s findings add to the growing body of evidence that climate change is having a profound impact on public health.
Author: Evan Null
