Climate changes increase risk of death / BBC
Deaths from heart disease is expected to rise due to climate change. Health experts warned that extreme weather, hot and cold began to occur, causing the enhancement of the human heart work. Research that is written in the medical journal British Medical Journal found each one degree drop in temperature on one day in the UK associated with the increase of 200 cases of heart attacks.
Heat wave, meanwhile, increased deaths from heart disease, such as occurred in Paris when the summer of 2003.
Mid-August 2003, more than 11,000 people died in France due to heart disease, when the temperature in the region reached 40 degrees Celsius.
Most cases of sudden death from heart disease associated with heart conditions other than heart attacks.
In the summer of 2003, hot weather caused 2000 deaths in the UK.
Experts estimate in the year 2080 the same conditions will occur each year.
The elderly and people who have a greater risk of heart problems caused by extreme weather.
Research conducted BMJ, researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, analyzed data from approximately 84 000 hospital patients who suffered a heart attack in 2003 and 2006 and compares with a daily temperature in the UK.
Researchers found a decrease in temperature of one degree Celsius from the average daily temperature in cumulative 2% associated with increased risk of heart attack within 28 days, although during the summer.
Cold temperature
Although the 2% increase seems too small for the individual, but an increasing number of 200 cases of heart attacks in one day is big enough if calculated from the total population in the UK.
Most of the victims died aged 70-80 years, but people who are taking aspirin in the long run has less risk for heart attack for various reasons.
Researchers consider the possibilities of cold temperatures make easy frozen blood, and increase the risk of heart attack.
It also explains why the blood-thinning drug aspirin may provide protection.
Krishnan Bhaskaran principal investigator and his team said further study is needed to ascertain what can be done to prevent the increased risk, such as giving advice to patients, especially elderly, to wear comfortable clothes and warm their homes.
Last year, cold temperatures also cause the number of deaths increased by 50% in the UK is 36 000 during the winter 2008/2009.
In a BMJ editorial, Dr. Paola Michelozzi and Manuela De Sario, from the Department of Epidemiology in the Region Lazio in Rome says that despite rising global temperatures have a positive impact on health such as lower mortality caused by cold air, but increases the risk of death from heat waves.
“Steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by lifestyle changes in society and individuals can provide benefits for health and climate protection,” she said.
