Extreme Heat Safety 03
Extreme Heat Safety 03 : Extreme Heat Events and Public Health: Extreme heat events can cause a range of health problems from relatively minor health issues, such as a heat rash, to life-threatening conditions, such as heat stroke. Extreme heat can aggravate some chronic diseases and can increase formation of certain air pollutants that can affect people's health. Everyone is susceptible to heat-related illnesses, but some people may be more susceptible or 'at risk' for a heat-related illness because of factors that increase exposure to the extreme heat and/or affect their ability to stay cool. The following chapter reviews heat-related illnesses and the characteristics or risk factors that increase the risk of experiencing morbidity and/or mortality from extreme heat. (a) Health Issues Caused By Extreme Heat: The body needs to maintain an internal temperature of 98.6?F to function properly. When it is hot outside, the body becomes challenged to stay cool. When the internal temperature rises, the human body's ability to perform critical functions becomes impaired and a person becomes susceptible to serious adverse health effects. Extreme heat events can cause a range of health problems from relatively minor health issues, such as a heat rash, to life-threatening conditions, such as heat stroke and ultimately death. Heat exhaustion is the most common heat-related illness. Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, thirst, fatigue, headache, nausea, visual disturbances, weakness, anxiety, confusion, and vomiting. Treatment involves monitoring the person in a cool, shady environment and ensuring adequate hydration. Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which can be fatal. See Table 3 for a list of some of the medical conditions directly attributable to excessive heat exposure along with recommended responses. Exposure to extreme heat can aggravate already existing conditions. An analysis of hospital admissions in Chicago during the July 1995 heat wave estimated that the heat wave was responsible for over 1,000 excess hospital admissions, particularly among people with pre-existing diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and nervous system disorders.16 Another study found that elevated air temperatures were associated with short-term increases in cardiovascular-related hospital admissions for 12 US cities. For a detailed description of pre-existing diseases/conditions that can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, see the next section, "Characteristics that increase the risk of heat-related illnesses". There is growing evidence that the effects of extreme heat events on mortality are larger during high ozone and high particulate matter (PM10) days. Ozone is formed by the reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the presence of sunlight and is highly sensitive to temperature. Research indicates a strong association between temperatures above 90?F and ground-level ozone formation.19 Ground-level ozone and high air temperatures have been associated with increased mortality. Ground-level ozone exposure can cause harmful cardiopulmonary health effects, including lung irritation, breathing difficulties, reduced lung capacity, aggravated asthma, and increased susceptibility to bronchitis. Populations at risk to ozone exposure include outdoor workers in landscape and construction, and adults and children who are performing strenuous outdoor exercise and play. Similarly, during an extreme heat event, mortality is greater on high PM10 days. The interaction of heat days and PM10 seems to more significantly affect the elderly. Exposure to PM can aggravate chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and several studies suggest that the elderly and children may be particularly affected by PM. In addition to direct health impacts, extreme heat events can result in increased use of energy, power outages, damage to highways and roads, and an increase strain on the provision of available essential services like emergency hospital services, ambulance services and security. (b) Characteristics That Increase the Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses: Everyone is susceptible to illnesses due to extreme heat; however, certain characteristics can increase a person's risk. Demographic characteristics, social/behavioral factors, special health care needs, disability status, and geography/location may affect the ability of an individual to maintain normal body temperature and stay hydrated. Certain populations may have more than one characteristic / risk factor that could put them at increased risk. Below is a review of characteristics that increase the risk of experiencing morbidity and/or mortality from extreme heat. (For a quick reference of characteristics that increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, See: Table 4). Identification of populations that are more vulnerable to extreme heat events is useful for targeting limited resources to people who need additional aid during an extreme heat event and an important strategy for preventing negative health outcomes from extreme heat. For more information on mapping vulnerable populations and risk factors for extreme heat events, see the Chapter 3, "Preparing Kansas for Extreme Heat Events". (b1) Demographic characteristics: (b1.1) Age-Older Adults: Persons 65 years old or older are more vulnerable to negative health outcomes from extreme heat events than younger adults. Additionally, the older the person is the greater the risk for a heat-related illness. A person 75 years old has a greater risk for heat-related illnesses than someone who is 65 years old. Certain physiological changes associated with aging, especially the body's decreased ability to thermoregulate, increase older adults' risk of experiencing heat-related illnesses. Chronic disease conditions and the use of certain medications also may increase older adults' susceptibility to adverse health outcomes from heat. Elderly persons who live alone and/or at or below the poverty line are particularly vulnerable to negative health outcomes from extreme heat because of a combination of factors associated with aging, social isolation, and economic constraints. Recent studies of heat-related deaths in Kansas have shown that elderly persons with mental illness are at a higher risk than their peers with no mental illness to die of heat-related conditions because their condition allows them to be trapped outside of their homes an extreme heat event. Older adults are a growing segment of the population. Kansas' population has been steadily growing in the past decades. However, the elderly is the fastest growing segment of the population. It is predicted that the number of people 65 years old and older will continue to increase during the next two decades
No records Found