Summer heat and seniors’ health
Summer is a dangerous time for older people. They need to be especially careful when it’s not only hot, but humid too, because the chance of having a heart attack increases in extreme conditions.
That’s the conclusion of a Greek study recently published in the journal Heart. Greek researchers analysed 3,126 heart attack deaths that occurred in Athens in 2001, and compared them with the daily Athens weather, using daily atmospheric temperature, pressure and relative humidity data from the National Meteorological Society for Athens.
They found that heart attacks were more likely in extreme conditions – very cold and very hot temperatures – and affected mainly people over 70. Heart attacks were more common in the winter months in cold conditions. As the weather turned warmer they dropped in frequency. But over about 23 degrees Celsius (74 degrees Fahrenheit) they began to rise again.
Humidity also increased the risk – regardless of whether it was hot or cold.
A heart attack was more likely when these extreme conditions were sustained. It was more likely if it had been preceded by a week of extreme conditions, not just an isolated day.
A constant, moderate, temperate, dry environment is best for health. Heat means the body’s metabolism has to work harder to keep the body at its normal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit) – and this puts a strain on the heart.
There could be other contributing factors such as dehydration, and/or falls in blood pressure – heat stroke – while standing outside in the heat.
Older people are more at risk because their metabolism and their hearts don’t have the same ability to adapt.
In 2003 a heat wave killed an estimated 30,000 people – mostly older people – in Europe.
Older people need to take precautions, especially in tropical northern areas in Australia and especially if they have a history of heart problems or risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, obesity, and/or diabetes.
