Record-breaking high temperatures pose extreme heat dangers, according to CDC warning.

In 2023, the CDC reported that many regions in the US experienced "record-breaking high temperatures" due to extreme heat.

The number of emergency room visits caused by heat-related illnesses increased significantly in several regions of the U.S. and remained high for an extended period, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the agency.

A higher number of males than females visited the emergency room due to heat-related ailments, particularly among individuals aged 18 to 64.

The report states that Americans are enduring increasingly intense heatwaves.

Is extreme heat a public threat?

An emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, Ohio, Patrick McHugh, M.D., stated that extreme heat could be considered an invisible killer due to the fact that many people become exposed and vulnerable to its dangers quickly and often without warning.

While McHugh advised Americans not to worry, he highlighted the importance of being aware and prepared for heat wave dangers.

The risk of extreme temperatures, heat waves, and record-breaking temperatures increases as average temperatures rise due to climate change, according to an EPA spokesperson who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Extreme heat can be dangerous, so it's important to know how to stay safe.

What is extreme heat?

An EPA spokesperson stated in an email that extreme heat can be defined based on various factors, including location, weather conditions (such as cloud cover, humidity, and temperature), and the time of year.

The agency stated that it typically happens when the temperature and humidity are higher than usual in a specific region.

In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit during summertime are typical, but in Boston, Massachusetts, the same temperatures are considered extreme.

The EPA spokesperson stated that the susceptibility to heat in the U.S. varies depending on the location's normal temperature and the availability of cooling infrastructure.

"As extreme heat becomes increasingly frequent in areas that have traditionally been spared from such conditions, the lack of infrastructure to maintain cool temperatures poses significant health and safety risks."

"Extreme heat could be considered an invisible killer … as many people become exposed and vulnerable to its dangers quickly and often without warning."

The EPA spokesperson defined a heat wave as "a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather, usually lasting more than two days in a row."

Heat waves can occur with or without humidity.

Since the mid-1800s, the global temperature has increased by more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit, as stated by McHugh.

He informed Planet Chronicle Digital that this leads to more intense heat temperatures, greater temperature fluctuations, and a higher likelihood of heat-related illnesses.

Over the past 60 years, the EPA's Heat Waves indicator has shown a trend of more frequent and prolonged heat waves in 50 cities across the U.S. Additionally, the average number of days and season length for heat waves has increased, as well as the intensity of these heat waves.

Risk factors for extreme heat effects

According to McHugh, who specializes in wilderness medicine, elderly adults, infants, individuals taking certain medications, and people with disabilities are more likely to develop heat-related illnesses.

He cautioned that these people might not have enough means to avoid the heat and safeguard themselves.

The EPA spokesperson pointed out that many schools in the northern U.S. lack air conditioning, putting students and teachers at risk during heat waves in May/June and September.

The CDC states that certain factors, such as fever, dehydration, prescription drug use, alcohol use, and sunburn, can increase someone's risk of developing a heat-related illness.

The EPA advised that engaging in strenuous physical activity during extreme heat can pose a risk to healthy individuals, so it's crucial to balance such activities with actions that cool the body to prevent heat-related illness.

The CDC states that certain settings, including cars, construction sites, and homes with minimal air conditioning, can increase the risk of people.

Heat island effect

Some urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to outlying areas.

According to the EPA spokesperson, buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun's heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies.

These densely populated regions, with minimal vegetation, act as "hotspots" compared to the surrounding areas.

The agency observed that urban daytime temperatures are approximately 1 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than those in outlying areas, while nighttime temperatures are about 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher.

Individuals residing and employed in these regions are more likely to experience heat-related ailments and fatalities.

"Prolonged exposure to high temperatures is associated with increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney and respiratory disorders."

During extreme heat, individuals may experience a range of illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and hyperthermia, as stated by the EPA.

The spokesperson stated that extended exposure to high temperatures is linked to higher hospital admissions for cardiovascular, kidney, and respiratory issues.

In the United States, approximately 1,220 individuals die annually from heat-related illnesses, according to CDC estimates.

The EPA spokesperson stated that heat islands increase energy demand for cooling, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and financial burdens, particularly for low- or fixed-income households.

It is recommended to use an air-conditioned home or a building with easy access to shelter during extreme heat, advised McHugh.

Extreme cold is dangerous, too

Those who challenge climate change predictions caution of extreme temperature fluctuations.

According to William Happer, PhD, professor emeritus of physics at Princeton University in New Jersey, most studies have shown that extreme cold causes about 10 times more excess deaths than extreme heat.

An international study from 2015 revealed that the majority of temperature-related deaths occurring between 1985 and 2012 in 13 countries, including the U.S., were caused by cold weather.

The Lancet study showed that most deaths were due to moderate temperature exposure rather than extreme temperatures.

In 2021, a study in The Lancet Planetary Health revealed that for every death caused by heat, nine were linked to cold.

According to Happer, no one knows the extent to which the recent warming, approximately 1 degree Celsius over the past century, is caused by greenhouse gases or is natural.

He believes that less than half of the warming is due to rising greenhouse gases.

Happer observed that despite the cause, daily high temperatures have seen minimal change.

"Almost entirely, the warming can be attributed to the increase in minimum temperatures during the night and in winter."

He argued that the warming should have saved more lives than would have been lost due to extreme cold.

The EPA spokesperson advised utilizing the CDC's Heat and Health Tracker for local heat and health information.

Real-time heat-related warnings are available from National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Offices for Americans.

Regularly, Fox Weather can be consulted for current weather information and news updates.

For more Health articles, visit planetchronicle.net/health.