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Rachel V Thomas

Extreme Heat To Drive US Heart Disease Burden Up 200% By 2050: Study

Higher temperatures in the US could increase heat-related heart disease by 200 per cent by 2050, according to an alarming study.

The research, published in JAMA Cardiology, predicts rising temperatures driven by climate change will dramatically increase heat-related heart disease in the US.

It is already known that extreme heat is detrimental to heart health and can potentially trigger heart attacks and other cardiovascular events.

"But this study is the first to map out exactly how bad the problem could get—county by county, across the US. It also highlighted how states with lower median household incomes are likely to face higher heat-related heart disease burden," said Gokul Parameswaran, research associate at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine's Cardiovascular Research Institute and the study's lead author.

Researchers analyzed heart disease data in each county in the contiguous US from 2010 to 2016 to develop projections through 2050.

They found that the Pacific Northwest has the highest heat-related heart disease rate in the country. Southern states, however, are projected to see the steepest increases by 2050.

"Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a health equity crisis, and prioritizing vulnerable communities must be at the center of any heat mitigation strategy," said Salil Deo, associate professor in the Department of Surgery.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/global-temperatures-likely-to-stay-near-record-levels-for-next-five-years-wmo-article-154425085" data-type="tilCustomLink">Global Temperatures Likely To Stay Near Record Levels For Next Five Years: WMO</a>

The study also found that aging — independent of temperature increases — will contribute an additional 34 per cent increase in heat-related heart disease by 2050, simply because there will be more older adults by then.

The study comes amidst more frequent heat events in the US, which is also lasting longer, and the temperatures during heat events are going up.

The past 10 years, from 2015 to 2024, were the hottest on record globally. But in cities across the United States, the average rate of extreme heat events increased from two per year in the 1960s to 10 per year between 2010 and 2020, according to Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), a Washington-based NGO.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/heat-dome-triggering-record-breaking-may-temperatures-in-france-uk-spain-article-154401273" data-type="tilCustomLink">‘Heat Dome’ Triggering Record-Breaking May Temperatures In France, UK, Spain</a>

Additionally, as of 2024, the average length of heat-wave season in the US has increased by 46 days since the 1960s.

<h2>How Does Heat Raise Heart Risks?</h2>

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when temperatures rise, the heart must work harder to keep the body cool, and the likelihood of developing sudden clots in the bloodstream increases.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-extreme-heat-trigger-heart-palpitations-expert-explains-risks-article-154416912" data-type="tilCustomLink">Can Extreme Heat Trigger Heart Palpitations? Expert Explains Risks</a>

This extra stress on the heart due to high heat may lead to heart attacks or sudden worsening of heart disease, especially in the elderly or those with prior heart conditions.

<ul><li>Expanding green spaces and tree cover in urban areas could help reduce temperature-related adverse effects.</li><li>Expanding access to cooling centers and air-conditioning assistance programs for low-income communities can also help bridge the gap in underserved communities.</li></ul>

"Climate change is not a distant, abstract threat," said Sanjay Rajagopalan, director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute and chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Harrington Heart &amp; Vascular Institute.

"It is a present and growing danger to the hearts of every American, and it is coming for the most vulnerable among us first. The choices made today about greenhouse gas emissions, urban planning, and health care policy will determine whether tens of thousands of Americans live or die from heat-related heart disease by 2050," he added.

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Higher temperatures in the US could increase heat-related heart disease by 200 per cent by 2050, according to an alarming study.The research, published in JAMA Cardiology, predicts rising temperatures driven by climate change will dramatically increase heat-related heart disease in the US.It is already known that extreme heat is detrimental to heart health and can potentially trigger heart attacks and other cardiovascular events."But this study is the first to map out exactly how bad the problem could get—county by county, across the US. It also highlighted how states with lower median household incomes are likely to face higher heat-related heart disease burden," said Gokul Parameswaran, research associate at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine's Cardiovascular Research Institute and the study's lead author.Regional Hot SpotsResearchers analyzed heart disease data in each county in the contiguous US from 2010 to 2016 to develop projections through 2050.They found that the Pacific Northwest has the highest heat-related heart disease rate in the country. Southern states, however, are projected to see the steepest increases by 2050."Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a health equity crisis, and prioritizing vulnerable communities must be at the center of any heat mitigation strategy," said Salil Deo, associate professor in the Department of Surgery.Also read: Global Temperatures Likely To Stay Near Record Levels For Next Five Years: WMOThe study also found that aging — independent of temperature increases — will contribute an additional 34 per cent increase in heat-related heart disease by 2050, simply because there will be more older adults by then.Heat Events In The USThe study comes amidst more frequent heat events in the US, which is also lasting longer, and the temperatures during heat events are going up.The past 10 years, from 2015 to 2024, were the hottest on record globally. But in cities across the United States, the average rate of extreme heat events increased from two per year in the 1960s to 10 per year between 2010 and 2020, according to Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), a Washington-based NGO.Also Read:‘Heat Dome’ Triggering Record-Breaking May Temperatures In France, UK, SpainAdditionally, as of 2024, the average length of heat-wave season in the US has increased by 46 days since the 1960s.How Does Heat Raise Heart Risks?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when temperatures rise, the heart must work harder to keep the body cool, and the likelihood of developing sudden clots in the bloodstream increases.Read More: Can Extreme Heat Trigger Heart Palpitations? Expert Explains RisksThis extra stress on the heart due to high heat may lead to heart attacks or sudden worsening of heart disease, especially in the elderly or those with prior heart conditions.How To Tackle The RiskExpanding green spaces and tree cover in urban areas could help reduce temperature-related adverse effects.Expanding access to cooling centers and air-conditioning assistance programs for low-income communities can also help bridge the gap in underserved communities."Climate change is not a distant, abstract threat," said Sanjay Rajagopalan, director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute and chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute."It is a present and growing danger to the hearts of every American, and it is coming for the most vulnerable among us first. The choices made today about greenhouse gas emissions, urban planning, and health care policy will determine whether tens of thousands of Americans live or die from heat-related heart disease by 2050," he added.

extreme heat to drive us heart disease burden up 200% by 2050: study

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