Another reason to fear heat waves? Faster aging

Heat waves can speed up biological aging in a way similar to smoking or alcohol consumption, according to new research.

Health effects seem to get worse with repeated exposure to heat waves, especially for people in rural areas, manual workers and those without air conditioning. Surviving several extreme heat events over two years can speed up the biological clock of a person of about eight to 11 days.

Heat waves can speed up “biological clock”

The 15 -year study included 24,922 adults in Taiwan and recorded around 30 heat waves during this period. More exposure to heat waves resulted in faster aging in the participants’ organs and added additional days to their biological age.

This is not the first study to link extreme heat with a shortened lifespan. An American study published earlier this year suggests that the elderly who experienced more extreme days of heat had faster organic aging compared to people living in cooler areas.

Biological age refers to the condition of your cells, which can differ from your chronological age. The slowdown in organic aging could support a healthier and healthier life.

Researchers still learn how heat waves affect biological aging, but a theory says that extreme heat can shorten telomeres, DNA structures at the end of chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are linked to accelerated organic aging and a higher risk of death.

Extreme heat is a “silent killer”

Although the new study does not explain how heat waves accelerate organic aging, it highlights the dangers that extreme heat poses for health and longevity.

The extreme heat was called “silent killer” because this weather event does not cause the same obvious chaotic evil as a hurricane or a fire. But the heat waves are fatal: approximately 2,325 heat-related deaths occurred in the United States in 2023.

“It is an extreme public health risk, especially since we are starting to see the heat waves become more frequent, more intense and more sustainable,” Daniel J. Vecellio, PHD, deputy professor in the Department of Geography and Geology, at the University of Nebraska Omaha told Testwell.

Heat waves can worsen underlying health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or asthma. To stay safe, stay inside during the hottest game of the day, wear light and cowardly clothes and stay hydrated. However, people who work outside cannot easily avoid heat.

“Manual workers endure the physiological stress repeated without relief, accelerating aging faster than peers in fresher and more protected environments. These biological and social mechanisms emphasize the importance of fair access to cooling and proactive measures to mitigate chronic heat stress”, Shweta Arya, senior project manager Climate, Health and Equity at the American Health Association.

The extreme heat leads to appointments with the missed doctor

Extreme heat or cold can drive people – especially older adults and those who suffer from chronic diseases – to skip primary care visits. The missed appointments increased by 0.64% for each increase of 1 ° F greater than 89 ° F, according to a recent study of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“This can have important implications to miss key care activities which are used to prevent the development of chronic conditions. This is important because the presence of chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, makes the body more biologically to heat,” said Leah Schinasi, MSPH, PHD, co-author of the study and has declared to an assistant teacher at the contrary.

She added that certain chronic conditions prevent the body from moving blood on the surface of the skin to release heat and perspiration. Older adults, people with diabetes, sickle cell anemia, obesity and those who are pregnant or who take certain drugs may have trouble cooling in heat.

Better access to remote-service medicine could help people keep their appointments on health care during extreme heat. Schinasi said that health care providers should also prioritize discussions on heat risks and how to stay safe.