You're listening to Well Now,

You're listening to Well Now,

Slate's podcast on Health and Wellness.

I'm Maya Feller.

And I'm Kavita Patel.

As global temperatures continue to rise,

the impact of extreme heat on public health

has become an increasingly urgent topic, Maya.

Last year, the United States experienced its highest number of heat related deaths in 45 years

with at least 2,300 deaths directly attributed to excessive heat.

Experts actually believe the number could be much higher due to under-reporting and misclassification

on death certificates because heat can be a contributing factor but may not be listed as the ultimate cause.

We also saw unprecedented rates of emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses

last summer, particularly in regions experiencing severe heat waves. The average rate of such

visits in five southern states was more than double that of previous five summers.

Let me read that again, Maya. The average rate of visits in five

southern states was more than double than that of the previous five summers

combined. These distressing numbers are not solely growing in the United States.

For instance, in the summer of 2022, more than 60,000 people died from excess heat in Europe.

Extreme heat can exacerbate underlying health conditions such as

cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory disorders. This means it's crucial

to understand and address the health implications of rising temperatures.

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