Now that summer is officially over and the morning air has the crispness that can only signal the arrival of fall, outdoor lovers may be breathing a sigh of relief.
It’s certainly no secret that summer, along with its extreme heat, is hard on the heart. The sun-lovers among us are well aware of the need for precautions to keep our heart healthy during the long, dog-days of summer.
Light-weight breathable clothing, an ice-cold glass of water, and a shady place to rest were a small price to pay for summer fun when the payoff was a heart-healthy summer free of heat stroke and cardiac events.
Now that the heat has passed, you can enjoy the outdoors and not worry about the impact of the extreme weather on your heart!
But before you exhale, you just may want to rethink that sigh of relief. According to the results of new study, extreme cold may be just as hard on cardiovascular health as extreme summer heat.
Research conducted in Brisbane, Australia found that extreme temperatures -- both heat and cold -- increase the risk of death from a cardiac event.
The Brisbane study is unique because it’s the first study to specifically examine the impact of average daily temperature on premature death due to cardiovascular disease.
Led by Cunrui Huang, M.Med., M.S.P.H., researchers compared average daily temperatures from 1996 through 2004 to deaths from heart-related disease which occurred during the same time period.
For purposes of the study, researchers used the hottest and coldest 1 percent of temperature extremes to calculate their findings. In Brisbane, heat waves were considered above 84.5˚F and cold spells below 53˚F.
As a part of study, researchers also measured the total number of “years of life lost” in Australia as a result of cardiovascular disease. Researchers found that 72 years of life are lost daily per each 1 million persons, as a result of cardiovascular-related disease.
Average life expectancy was used to calculate the total years of life lost.
While the risk of premature death from a cardiovascular-related event increased in both extreme heat and cold, researchers found that heat waves lasting two or more days resulted in the greatest risk of premature death.
Extreme temperatures are linked to higher rates of blood pressure, increased heart rates, and thickening of the blood.
Researchers believe that prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures may exhaust physical resources to the point where a person becomes susceptible to a cardiac-related event. In addition, other health conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, may be contributing factors.
While the study findings are based on a specific locality, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences report that hospital admissions for cardiovascular-related events -- strokes, chest pain, heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, and arrhythmias, for example -- are higher during both extreme heat and cold.
Sources:
American Heart Association (2012, September 17). Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 8, 2012, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120918184816.htm
Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke and Climate Change. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/climatechange/health_impacts/cardiovascular_diseases/index.cfm
Extreme temperatures may raise risk of premature cardiovascular death. American Heart Association. 18 Sept 2012.
http://newsroom.heart.org/pr/aha/extreme-temperatures-may-raise-238569.aspx?ncid=36436
Journal Reference:
1. C. Huang, A. G. Barnett, X. Wang, S. Tong. Effects of Extreme Temperatures on Years of Life Lost for Cardiovascular Deaths: A Time Series Study in Brisbane, Australia. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2012; 5 (5): 609
http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/5/5/609.abstract
Reviewed October 9, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith