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Health risk from heat: New study shows amazing effects
Neurological diseases are increasing due to heat waves: Europe's health is at stake. KLUG provides information about effects and countermeasures.
Health risk from heat: New study shows amazing effects
Heat waves and their impact on public health
The increase in heat waves due to climate change not only has negative consequences for the environment, but also has a major impact on people's health. Particularly in Europe, the fastest warming continent, the risk of health risks from extreme weather conditions is increasing. In view of the upcoming Heat Action Day on June 5, 2024, the German Alliance for Climate Change and Health (KLUG) points out the urgency of measures to protect the population.
Neurological diseases are a consequence of increasing heat waves. A recently published study shows that strokes in Germany in particular increase during periods of extreme heat. This has a negative impact on chronic neurologically ill patients and worsens their health.
The influence of heat on strokes: new scientific findings
Researchers led by Dr. Cheng He from Helmholtz Munich evaluated data from the Augsburg University Hospital and found that high nighttime temperatures increase the risk of strokes. With climate change, the number of nighttime heat waves is also increasing, which is particularly problematic for the health of the population. More than 11,000 strokes were analyzed and showed a 7% increase in the risk of stroke in 2013-2020 compared to the previous period.
In addition to strokes, other neurological diseases such as migraines, multiple sclerosis and paraplegia are also affected by the effects of heat. The rise in temperature not only affects acute cases of illness, but also the quality of life of patients with chronic neurological diseases.
Preventive measures against the health risks of heat
The German Society for Neurology (DGN) is calling for increased prevention measures in the wake of current developments. It is important that the population is informed about the risks of heat waves and that vulnerable groups, such as older people or people with neurological diseases, are given special protection. Recommended measures include avoiding direct sunlight, drinking enough fluids, and adjusting medication doses.
It is crucial that the public takes the health risks of heat seriously and protects themselves accordingly. The negative impact of heat waves on the population can be reduced with targeted prevention measures. It is up to us to take responsibility together and protect everyone's health.