As extreme temperatures rise globally, a silent danger is building—and it could be accelerating how rapidly we get older. Beyond the evident destruction of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and stress brought on by the climate, science is beginning to discover deeper, less evident harm: heat waves could be speeding up cellular aging.

With historic highs in global temperatures and rising frequency of heatwaves, particularly in the U.S. and Asia, scientists are calling for consideration at the nexus of environmental heat and epigenetic ageing.

What is Epigenetic Age?

Chronological age is the age on your driver's license, but epigenetic age is the age written far down in your cells. This scientific term tracks how old your body is biologically, based on chemical alterations in your DNA. These alterations, referred to as DNA methylation, function like switches that flip genes on and off. As we get older, these patterns change—and scientists use them to approximate biological age with instruments referred to as "epigenetic clocks."

Your epigenetic age doesn’t always match your chronological one. Influences like pollution, stress, poor lifestyle habits, and now—heat exposure—can accelerate epigenetic aging. This internal ticking clock impacts everything from how quickly your skin ages to your ability to fight disease, recover from illness, or manage inflammation.

Is Your DNA A New Risk Factor?

In 2023, a new German study published in Environment International found a strong association between heat exposure and epigenetic age acceleration. Scientists discovered that in areas where average annual temperatures were only 1°C higher, individuals exhibited evidence of accelerated biological aging.

Wenli Ni, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health postdoctoral research fellow and first author of the study, explained that heat stress affects DNA methylation patterns. These alterations can compromise gene function, accelerate aging, and cause a cascade of biological damage—particularly if the exposure is chronic.

Additionally, Taiwan studies that had more than 2,000 participants upheld the association. The increase in biological age was attributed to a rise of 1°C from the average of 180 days by 0.04 to 0.08 years. At first, it might appear negligible in the short term, but when consistent throughout years and population, it aids in premature occurrence of diseases that are related to age and makes healthcare burdens worse on a worldwide scale.

Why The Heat in 2024 Was a Tipping Point?

2024 was the hottest year ever, with almost 6.8 billion individuals facing record-breaking heat for a minimum of a month. Health professionals in areas such as India observed an influx of patients who looked physically older than their age, which sent alarm signals regarding the influence of climate on the health and lifespan of human beings.

One such U.S.-based study, published in Science Advances, looked at more than 3,500 adults older than age 56 and discovered a robust association between prolonged heat exposure (1–6 years) and cellular aging. Chronic heat not only disturbed sleep and increased levels of stress, but also played a role in biological deterioration that grew more severe with time.

The German study also emphasized that women, and especially those with Type 2 diabetes or obesity, showed stronger links between heat and increased aging. Women produce less sweat and their bodies generally take longer to trigger cooling, placing them at a physiological disadvantage during heatwaves.

Diabetics and the obese also have difficulty with heat dissipation because of decreased blood flow and insulating body fat, which complicates the release of heat from the core to the skin. These conditions further enhance the biological effect of heat, raising the risk of cardiovascular issues, kidney injury, and premature chronic diseases.

Epigenetic Impact Before Birth

Unsettlingly, even the effect of heat and climatic stress may start pre-natally. A recent research study, conducted on Kenya-based drought-stricken mothers who published their paper in Nature, suggested that intra-uterine exposure to harsh external environmental conditions contributed to hastened aging of their children.

Stress during pregnancy, water deprivation, caloric deficit, and psychogenic stress induced epigenetic changes in fetuses under development—showing that ageing might be modifiable by external surroundings even before one's life is started. All this indicates towards a dire requirement of addressing determinants of well-being, including access to nutrition, water, and gender balance, especially among climate-risk districts.

Ways to Protect Against Heat-Related Ageing

While reversing climate change will take systemic global action, individuals can take key steps to protect themselves from heat-induced aging:

1. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is one of the most immediate risks of extreme heat. Drink water frequently—don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Carry water when heading outdoors and avoid alcohol and caffeine in hot weather.

2. Keep Cool

Use air conditioning when possible. If it’s not available, electric fans can offer relief when the indoor temperature is below 104°F (40°C). Keep your skin damp with a wet towel, mist bottle, or sponge baths. Visit air-conditioned public spaces like malls or libraries.

3. Dress Smart

Wear light-colored, breathable clothing. Avoid tight fabrics. Use wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen to protect your skin from direct sun exposure.

4. Plan Smartly

Avoid hard work between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., the usual peak heat period. Schedule chores in the morning or evening when it's cooler.

5. Check In With At-Risk People

The most susceptible are older people, young children, pregnant women, and those with serious illness. Make sure they avoid heat and drink plenty of water when a heatwave hits.

The connection between climate and aging is no longer conjecture—it's quantifiable and based on several worldwide studies. As heat waves and frigid days become the norm, public health infrastructure needs to change by not only addressing heat as a weather phenomenon, but as a constant health threat.

Long-term solutions will require more than individual behavior. Governments and health institutions will have to prioritize heat preparedness plans, enhance urban infrastructure, and establish cooling centers. Policies specifically targeting enhancement of food security, safeguarding pregnant women, and mitigating occupational exposure to heat—particularly among women in labor-intensive occupations will be crucial.

In conclusion, if we don't take action to stem the increasing menace of heat extremes, we are likely to wind the clock forward—not only on climate, but on the human life expectancy as well. To age more quickly as a result of exposure to the environment is a brewing public health emergency and the world needs to wake up to it.

For more than 17 years, one woman battled a growing list of unexplained and debilitating symptoms—fatigue, joint pain, spontaneous fevers, and swollen lymph nodes—without a clear diagnosis.

A former college athlete who once thrived on high-impact sports like rugby and ice hockey, she eventually found herself physically debilitated and mentally drained. Despite multiple hospital visits and consultations with specialists, answers remained elusive.

According to USA Today, her health journey began in college, where daily life became a struggle. Tests for common conditions, including mononucleosis and autoimmune disorders, failed to reveal anything conclusive. By her mid-30s, Nika Beamon, a New York-based author and an award winning journalist, had suffered two strokes, and yet, no diagnosis explained the persistent deterioration in her health.

The delay in diagnosis was not for lack of trying—she saw 26 doctors and underwent 37 medical procedures. Every physician agreed something was wrong. What remained unclear was what exactly was wreaking havoc in her body.

“I felt like I was aging rapidly,” she told USA Today. “It was as if you went from 20 to 50 in a day.”

A Long-Awaited Diagnosis

More than a decade and a half after her symptoms began, a rheumatologist finally offered clarity. The mystery illness turned out to be IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), a rare immune-mediated condition that can inflame and damage organs if left untreated.

All it took to confirm the diagnosis was a blood test—an infuriatingly simple step that hadn’t been taken earlier because no one had a reason to look for such a rare disorder.

The immune disorder was first widely recognized by Japanese gastroenterologists in 2006, with formal naming and classification happening in 2012. The disease tricks the body’s immune system into producing excess IgG4 antibodies, which can form masses or cause swelling in critical organs such as the liver, lungs, or pancreas.

If these affected organs aren’t treated in time, irreversible damage—like cirrhosis—can occur.

While not fatal if caught early, the disease's real threat lies in its stealth and its ability to mimic other conditions. It’s often misdiagnosed or mistaken for cancer, as the masses caused by excess immune cells closely resemble tumors.

“It’s not cancers or anything,” a medical expert told USA Today. “It’s just that the immune system is confused and reacting to something.”

When Diagnosis Is Delayed

The journey to diagnosis for IgG4-RD is often complicated because the symptoms are both non-specific and widespread. Fatigue, joint pain, fevers, or masses can be attributed to more common conditions. It’s only when these symptoms span multiple organs, or when an aware radiologist spots a distinctive pattern on imaging, that IgG4-RD is even considered.

In this case, it took over 17 years for someone to finally put the pieces together. The woman had no known family history of autoimmune or immune-related conditions, making her case more perplexing. Compounding the delay was a lack of widespread awareness and diagnostic protocols for IgG4-RD at the time her symptoms began.

Treating IgG4-RD: A New Era

Treatment for IgG4-RD typically starts with steroids like prednisone, which can reduce inflammation. However, these drugs aren’t viable long-term due to their significant side effects. More recently, the FDA approved Uplizna, the first drug specifically designed to target IgG4-RD. The monoclonal antibody works by suppressing the B-cells responsible for producing the problematic antibodies.

In clinical trials, Uplizna showed an 87% reduction in flare-ups. Patients can now expect better management of the disease with fewer side effects and a more targeted approach.

“Most patients do well if the disease is diagnosed and treated on time,” USA Today reported, citing clinical experts.

Life After Diagnosis

Now in her 50s, Beamon continues to manage her condition with medications and regular checkups. Although the disease hasn’t disappeared, having a name for it—and a treatment plan—has drastically improved her quality of life.

“There are good days and bad days,” she admitted to USA Today, referring to flares and periods of inflammation.

She also found strength in community support, especially after publicly sharing her story and publishing a memoir documenting her medical journey. Her advice to others still searching for answers: advocate for yourself, keep detailed records, and bring someone to medical appointments.

Most importantly, she urges patients not to give up. “There’s always a doctor out there that can help you,” she said. “You just have to find the right one.”

Thanks to social many people now have access to a lot of medical knowledge just a click away. However, this accessibility has also allowed misinformation. Not too long ago, on June 2, a reel which got circulated around noted that common painkiller "increase your risk of heart issues by nearly 20%". The reel further claims that "they are also linked to fertility problems and mental health issues, because they don't solve anything."

These claims were made by social media health influencer Dimple Jangda, who also said that since painkillers are neurotoxins, it kills the nervous system that transmits the message of pain from that part of the body to the brain.

Talking about women and menstruators using popular painkillers like ibuprofen for period pain, she says, "You’re basically cutting off the communication and the conversation between the uterus and the brain, basically tricking your body into thinking there’s no pain happening here,” the influencer explains. “The pain is happening. The pain is basically a message, a communication from the body telling you that it needs attention ——- so instead of addressing the deficiency of the health issue and the root cause and the trigger, you’re basically suppressing it saying, “Shut Up!””

Painkillers Are Not Neurotoxins

Many experts have explained that painkillers are neurotoxins, nor do they interfere with nerves. They inhibit enzymes for the chemicals that are involved in pain. The painkillers block the production of those chemicals, but has no neurological effect.

Do Painkillers Cause Fertility Issues?

According to a reproductive forum Instituto Bernabeu, standard painkillers like paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are not related to infertility.

These are used to treat non-specific pain, including migraines, high temperatures, muscle pain, general discomfort, period cramps, etc.

The primary concern for many women of reproductive age is whether certain medications might affect their fertility in the short term. In the case of paracetamol, there’s no evidence to suggest it negatively impacts fertility. As for ibuprofen, it's commonly used to relieve severe menstrual pain, which can sometimes indicate underlying conditions like endometriosis—a condition that may itself be associated with fertility challenges.

However, as per a 2016 study, titled, Preconception use of pain-relievers and time-to-pregnancy: a prospective cohort study the use of medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen has not been significantly linked to reduced fertility, indicating that these drugs do not negatively affect the ability to conceive.

Can Painkillers Increase Risk of Cardiac Health Issues And Heart Attack?

The video also claims that painkillers can lead to health issues like increased risks of heart attacks. This claim, however is true as frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do increase the risk of heart attack.

Rare diseases—also called orphan diseases—may affect only a small fraction of the population individually, but collectively they pose a massive public health challenge in India. According to estimates from the Foundation for Research on Rare Diseases and Disorders, over 70 million Indians are living with rare genetic conditions. Despite their growing prevalence, patients continue to struggle with limited diagnosis, inadequate treatment options, and high out-of-pocket expenses.

A disease is considered rare in India if it affects fewer than one in 2,500 individuals. Globally, more than 7,000 rare diseases have been identified, most of which are genetic and often life-threatening. In the Indian context, conditions like Gaucher’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and various lysosomal storage disorders are among the most commonly reported.

Key Challenges Facing Rare Disease Patients

Delayed or Missed Diagnosis

One of the most significant hurdles is the lack of awareness and proper diagnostic infrastructure. With overlapping symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, neurological disturbances, and gastrointestinal issues, rare diseases are often misdiagnosed or go undetected for years. This diagnostic delay not only worsens the patient’s condition but can also lead to unnecessary treatments and mounting expenses.

High Cost of Treatment

Rare diseases typically require long-term and highly specialized care. Therapies like enzyme replacement can cost several lakhs annually, placing a heavy burden on families. Unfortunately, these treatments are often not covered under standard health insurance policies in India.

Limited Data and Research

The absence of a national registry for rare diseases makes it difficult to accurately track the disease burden or develop targeted interventions. Moreover, limited research funding hampers the development of new treatments, especially when pharmaceutical companies see little commercial incentive to invest in conditions affecting small patient groups.

Insufficient Infrastructure and Trained Personnel

The number of healthcare professionals trained to handle rare diseases remains low. Specialized diagnostic centres and treatment facilities are sparse, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, resulting in inequitable access to care.

Policy Responses and Emerging Solutions

National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021

In an effort to streamline care and provide financial assistance, the Indian government introduced the NPRD in 2021. The policy classifies rare diseases into three categories—those that need one-time curative treatment, those requiring long-term therapies, and conditions where definitive treatment is still under research. Under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme, financial assistance of up to ₹50 lakh is provided for specific conditions listed in the policy.

Encouraging Domestic Drug Manufacturing

To tackle the high costs of imported orphan drugs, the government has been encouraging domestic pharmaceutical companies to manufacture these treatments locally. Incentives, including tax benefits and research grants, are being explored to promote affordable drug development.

Newborn Screening and Early Detection

Recognizing the importance of early intervention, efforts are underway to expand newborn screening programs across India. Early diagnosis not only improves survival rates but also reduces the long-term cost and complexity of treatment.

Strengthening Public-Private Collaborations

Partnerships among government bodies, research institutions, and private companies are being promoted to advance rare disease research. Initiatives like the ICMR’s Rare Disease Registry aim to generate epidemiological data and facilitate better planning and resource allocation.

While recent policy measures have been a step in the right direction, much remains to be done. Strengthening financial support, expanding insurance coverage, increasing public awareness, and scaling up research and diagnostic capabilities are critical to improving the lives of those affected by rare diseases in India.

With sustained efforts and inclusive healthcare planning, the country can move toward a future where rare disease patients are no longer sidelined, but receive timely, equitable, and effective care.