Special Report: Extreme Heat and Human Health
Excessive heat is pushing the limits of human tolerability. In this 15-part series, Wise & Well examines how hot is too hot, how heat attacks body and mind in insidious ways, and what we can do to survive this rapidly warming world.
Extreme heat is a clear and present danger to physical and mental health, now and increasingly into the future. In this multi-part Special Report, Wise & Well writers — physicians, research scientists, mental health experts and journalists — get beyond the news to delve deeply into several aspects of heat’s effects on the human condition, from the obvious to the unexpected. You’ll also learn ways the problem can be mitigated at the societal level, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Updated Aug. 14, 2023
Hotter Than Ever: Our Climate Future Has Arrived
Unprecedented heat waves have plagued much of the planet in recent years, and right now many places are sweltering well beyond historical norms. The effects of this extreme heat on human health and mortality are not just serious but underappreciated and under-reported. Heat waves don’t blow away buildings or flatten villages, so heat deaths rarely make the news. Learn just how hot and deadly the planet has become.
— By Robert Roy Britt
Why Extreme Heat Kills So Quickly
Humans evolved to survive in a pretty narrow temperature range. When the body exceeds that range, it starts to shut down. Death can follow quickly, sometimes horrifically. The writer wishes she understood this better when she took a fateful hike recently on a hot summer day. Find out what she’s since learned reporting on the science of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and what you need to know about this deadly force of nature.
—By Kathleen Murphy
Emotional Meltdown: High Temperatures Exacerbate Mental Health Conditions
Extreme heat can worsen mental illnesses. For example, in the United States, rates of suicide increase in the hottest months of the year. A new study finds heat waves in particular are associated with rising levels of suicidality and hospitalization for mental health conditions. This physician explains what we all need to know about the extreme heat and mood disorders — for ourselves and our loved ones — as temperatures rise.
—By Eric J. Kort MD
Where Have All the Public Pools Gone?
Community pools, where many American kids used to learn how to swim, can help improve physical fitness, mental health and societal connectedness. Why are there so few of them nowadays? An ugly history of racism and a decline in public funding are behind the demise of public pools, while rising temperatures make them more necessary than ever.
—By Chris Arestides, RN MPH
How to Sleep on Hot Summer Nights: Science vs. Myth
Our ancient ancestors didn’t have AC, yet they seem to have dealt with summer heat well enough to survive. How exactly do warm nights affect sleep, and what can we do about it? Learn about the myth of the 8-hour night, how much sleep our ancestors really got, and the many things you can do to improve your sleep effectiveness—even amid a heat wave.
—By Robert Roy Britt
Exercising in the Heat: Myths and Emerging Realities
Some people just can’t take the heat, especially during exercise. But heat affects people differently depending on age and sex. And the science on these differences is only half-baked — most of the foundational research was done on men. This health coach, nurse practitioner and runner sorts fact from fiction to understand how hot weather affects casual and elite athletes alike, and what each individual needs to know to stay safe out there.
—By Elizabeth Knight, PhD
- Related: My Stupid, Dangerous Run in 110-Degree Heat by Robert Roy Britt
The Brain Science Behind Forgetting Kids in Hot Cars
Kids are left to die in hot cars about 38 times a year in the US. How could loving parents or other caregivers forget a child like that? The answer lies in a jerry-rigged brain structure in which everyday stress allows the primitive areas to hijack the sophisticated areas because of some disruption to a normal routine. Learn the horrific brain science that every parent should be aware of, and how to make sure you avoid the nightmare.
–By Kathleen Murphy
Heat Really Does Make People Hot-Headed
We know anger can boil over in the heat of the moment. But what about in a moment of heat? Research suggests a hot day can make us more irritable, shorten our fuses, and lead to more aggression and violence. Learn what’s behind heat-induced anger and what you can do to keep your cool.
—By Annie Foley
Uh-Oh: Mosquitoes and Other Disease Carriers Thrive in Soaring Temperatures
Mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-carrying vectors absolutely love warmer temps. Malaria in the US? Yep. The insects are expanding their range and becoming more active — they bite more. But all is not predetermined, history suggests. Here’s what government needs to do, and how you can protect yourself.
—By Denny Pencheva, MD
Highly Processed Foods Increase Dehydration Risk
Common Western eating habits, including heavy intake of ultra-processed foods, put you at greater risk for serious health problems when it’s hot outside. Learn how easily you can improve your diet—for better overall health—and increase your hydration at the same time.
—By Mandy Willig, PhD, RD
The Myths and Facts of Hydration
Popular culture is awash in misconceptions about our daily fluid requirements. When it’s hot, you need more water. But how much? This physician debunks the myths and offers a prescription for proper hydration, no matter the conditions you face.
— By Eric J. Kort MS MD
Do You Need Electrolyte Replacements?
If you believe the marketing around sports drinks and energy drinks, you’d think you’re dangerously low in electrolytes, particularly during the record-setting heat of a summer like this one. Don’t believe the hype. Experts sort fact from myth and explain who needs a refill on electrolytes, and under what conditions.
— By Robert Roy Britt
Extreme Heat is Particularly Deadly for Older People
Extreme heat is miserable for everyone, but the effects are particularly pronounced and deadly for older people, who are more likely to have underlying health conditions that can worsen rapidly during a heat wave. Plus, many medications don’t play well with the higher temperatures, and the heat forces many older people into social isolation, as these three experts explain.
— By Deborah Carr, Giacomo Falchetta and Ian Sue Wing
A Simple Solution in a Warming World: More Shade Trees
Trees shading parking lots can reduce the pavement temperature by as much as 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Trees in urban areas can reduce the ambient temperature, making an otherwise hot streetscape comparatively pleasant. No matter who plants them—you, the city or some other entity—trees can make life more comfortable on any hot day, and help prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
—By Stephen Schimpff MD, MACP
About This Project
When Wise & Well writer Kathleen Murphy pitched a story about how heat kills so quickly, it spurred the idea for this special report. Several of our other writers responded to a prompt and developed their own pieces based on their own areas of expertise. I’m so proud of the team and so thrilled that this is being well-received by readers. It’s a testament to the power of Medium and its community of readers and writers.
About Wise & Well
Launched June 1, 2023, Wise & Well provides science-backed healthy insights you can use to improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being, making tomorrow just a little better than today. If you like what you see, please consider following the publication and/or subscribing to our weekly newsletter.
