Reconsider how we study the impact of heat health health health

Scientists have tested for years how warmth influences our hearts. But here is the thing: the most used method may not provide much insight into what happens to the heart during heat waves.

A new study led by the University of Ottawa, Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit with researchers at Harvard University, University of Otago, Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, and the University of Portsmouth, has unveiled critical insights into how we have the impact of the impact of the impact of the impact. With rising global temperatures, understanding these effects is crucial for protecting public health, especially during heat waves.

Published in Nature communicationThe research, which analyzed data from more than 400 laboratory studies with more than 6,800 participants, emphasizes how different heating methods influence the performance of the heart under heat stress.

“Our study shows that exposure to encapsulated heating methods, such as water-perfused suits or immersion of hot water, can lead to considerably raised heartbeat, blood pressure and heart tribe when the exposure to natural warmth, such as they experienced during hot weather, says Robert Meade, who was a postdoctoral fellow and Leadawa’s residence and Leadeura’s belonges for the weather. study.

When exposing heat, the body may have difficulty functioning normally, which may result in severe cardiovascular problems. To cool down, the body increases blood flow to the skin, leading to higher heartbeat and increased cardiac workload. The resulting increase in the heart can be a considerable risk for vulnerable groups, including older adults and people with existing heart conditions.

Glen Kenny, a complete physiology professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences of Uottawa and director of the research unit for human and environmental physiology, emphasizes the importance of these findings. “As the temperature continues to rise, we must understand how warmth influences the health of the heart. This research helps us to accept the physiological challenges that are set by heat and will inform how we protect individuals during extreme weather conditions.”

The study showed that the most common heating method, those large amounts of hot water fits directly above the skin, can lead to rapid overheating and aggravated increase in the heart tribe. Participants, on the other hand, exposed to climate-controlled environments that simulate warm weather or heat waves, showed various heart reactions that probably apply more to real-life scenarios.

“Our research offers essential data that can be used to design laboratory studies that will more easily translate into the real world to improve public health strategies,” Meade notes.

The researchers hope that their findings will influence how health agencies develop strategies to protect people during extreme heat events.

Scientists now go back to the drawing table, ready to find out what really happens when the Mercury rises – not in the lab, but in the real world where it is the most important.