How spells of hot weather put us in danger and what measures we can take to protect ourselves
Heatwaves have grown hotter and stronger as the planet has warmed, making what doctors call a “silent killer” even more dangerous. How worried should we be about heat – and how can we stay safe as the climate changes?
Hot weather kills an estimated half a million people each year. The average annual death toll is greater than that from wars or terrorism, but smaller than that from cars or air pollution.
Despite this, heat is rarely listed as the cause of death. That’s because extreme temperatures are largely indirect killers. Most heat victims die early from illnesses – such as heart, lung and kidney disease – that are made worse in warm weather.
High heat stresses the human body. When days are too hot to function and nights are not cool enough to recover, the heart and kidneys go into overdrive working to keep the body cool.
