Beware of warm summer evenings: Men in their early 60s face a greater risk of dying from heart attacks and strokes on muggy nights, study claims
- Study of UK men found a higher risk of heart death on hot summer nights
- Canadian researchers looked at mortality and temperature data over 15 years
- A 1 degree Celsius rise was linked to a 4% increase in deaths among the over 60s
Men in their 60s face a higher risk of dying from heart attacks or strokes on muggy summer evenings, according to a study.
Researchers found just a 1C (1.8F) rise in average night-time temperatures in June and July was linked to an up to 5 per cent spike in deaths from the conditions.
The study of more than 40,000 heart-related deaths in the UK over 15 years found the risk only affected men in 60 to 65, but not women.
The scientists said their findings were worrying in the face of global warming, when summer nights are expected to get hotter.
Hot weather is known risk factor for heart health, particularly for those with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
This is due to the organ having to work extra hard to maintain the body’s regular temperature, which can impact factors like blood pressure.
British experts welcomed the research as highlighting the dangers warm weather posed to people with cardiovascular disease.
A Canadian study found just a 1 degree Celsius rise in summer-night time temperatures was associated with a 4 per cent rise in cardiovascular death in men in their 60s
Researchers looked at the role of overnight temperatures in the UK and parts of the US.
Both areas have experienced a rise in night-time heat intensity during the summer months within the last decade.
The study used Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on cardiovascular deaths in England and Wales between June and July 2001 and 2015.
They also collected similar data for King County in Washington state, an area on the same rough latitude as England and Wales and with a similar low-uptake of air conditioning, the authors said.
The British Heart Foundation provides the following tips for those with a heart or circulatory conditions to beat the heat:
- Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water or other drinks. Water is best but milk, sports drinks, diluted squash, fruit juice, tea and coffee all count (although it’s best to stick to no more than three to five cups of tea or coffee a day, or switch to decaffeinated versions). If you’ve been told to restrict your fluid intake, because you have heart failure for example, you should speak to your GP.
- Avoid drinking too many alcoholic drinks. They can make you more dehydrated.
- Enjoy cold foods, such as salads and fruit, which have a high water content and are good sources of vitamins and minerals.
- Try to keep your home cool when you’re staying indoors. Cover windows exposed to direct sunlight with shutters if you have them, or blinds or curtains if you don’t. Open windows if it’s cooler outside than in your home.
- Turn off any lights or electrical equipment you don’t need, as they can make your home hotter.
- Spend time in the coolest part of your house, especially for sleeping. Wear light, loose fitting clothes.
- Stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day between 11am and 3pm. It can be cooler to go out, especially if you can spend time in the shade. Apply sunscreen, wear a hat and carry some water with you
- Avoid extreme physical exercise
Source: BHF
The researchers, from the University of Toronto in Canada, found there were almost 40,000 cardiovascular deaths in the UK in that time, of which 69 per cent were men, and almost 490 male deaths in King County.
Comparing this data to metrological information, the researchers found a rise in average night time temperature was linked to increased risk of heart disease deaths in men.
Publishing their findings in the journal BMJ Open, the researchers said a 1C rise in the usual summer temperature was linked to a 3.1 per cent increase in heart disease deaths in men between the age of 60-64 in the UK.
And in King County, a similar mercury spike was associated with a 4.8 per cent rise in cardiovascular deaths for men aged 65 and under, but not in older men.
The authors did not theorise why older men and women in general did not have this increased risk.
Study lead author Haris Majeed, an expert in medical science and climate, said the findings were concerning given the rise in summer heatwaves due to global warming.
‘In two mid-latitude regions, warmer summer nights are accompanied by an increased risk of death from CVD (cardiovascular deaths) among men aged 60–64 years,’ he said.
‘Considering the growing likelihood of extreme summers in Western USA and UK, our results invite preventive population health initiatives and novel urban policies aimed at reducing future risk of cardiovascular death events.’
Mr Majeed noted the study had limitations, such as a lack of regional breakdown on where these deaths were occurring.
Another general limitation of the study is that its findings may not be relevant to other regions of the world or in places with higher use of air-conditioning.
British Heart Foundation (BHF) senior cardiac nurse Julie Ward told MailOnline she welcomed the study’s findings.
‘This research adds to existing evidence that warmer temperatures during the summer can affect the heart, increasing the risk of health complications and even death in people with cardiovascular disease,’ she said.
However, she said further research needed to done noting that the most recent study only goes up to 2015 and more work should be done to examine how night-time temperature rises affect men and women differently.
Heart and circulatory diseases cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, about 160,000 a year, equivalent to one fatality every three minutes.
There are about 100,000 people are admitted to hospital after a heart attack each year in the UK, the equivalent of one admission every five minutes.
In the US heart disease is the leading cause for Americans, killing 659,000 people each year, roughly one ever 36 seconds.
Men have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease at a younger age than women, with older age and an unhealthy diet also risk factors.
The BHF advises people with cardiovascular conditions try to keep cool in hot weather.
This includes keeping hydrated, but avoiding too much caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, eating cold foods like salads and fruit.
Ms Ward added: ‘Try to keep your home cool in the daytime by closing curtains to stop the sun coming in, keep a glass of water close to you at night to avoid being dehydrated, and wear loose fitting cotton-based pyjamas.’
This chart shows the rise in annual average temperature in the UK between 1884 and 2020. Temperatures have been generally rising for more than a century but this trend has accelerated in the last 40 years
How is climate change affecting the UK?
Britain is already seeing more warm days because of climate change.
Met Office figures show there was an average of 167.4 days over 13.8C in 1994 (56.8F).
But 26 years later this had risen by a tenth to 183.4 days a year.
At the same time the number of cold days (below 6.4C or 43.5F) has plateaued, with more warmer days now interspersed in winter months.
The warmer weather is helping to boost farmers’ yields and fuel a burgeoning wine industry.
But experts say it will lead to more extreme weather events striking the UK such as floods and gales.
This year alone London has already seen flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall.
And in late 2019 and early 2020 severe flooding struck the north of England, mainly affecting Yorkshire and the Humber, causing millions of pounds of damage.
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