Americans are grappling with the unprecedented heat waves resulting in record-breaking deaths due to the extreme weather event that has swept across the country in recent times.
According to a study published by the American Medical Association, more than 21,518 Americans have died in heat-related incidents since 1999. In 2023, which was the hottest-ever year recorded, almost 2,325 people lost their lives in these incidents.
Jeffrey Howard, who led this research and teaches public health at the University of Texas, stated that these extreme weather events are likely to stay with us for a long time and that the possibility of them disappearing is minimal.
While the situation has been deteriorating for the last 25 years, it has become particularly concerning since 2016, when more people became victims of these incidents.
Howard also stated that the southwestern states have been influenced by these events the most, as 48% of the total deaths happened in Arizona, Texas, California, and Nevada.
This study came at a time when almost 19 million people nationwide are living under the heat warning with unseasoned heatwaves likely to strike parts of the otherwise cool Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest region in the upcoming days.
When human bodies are exposed to extremely hot and humid weather, even the lower temperatures could feel as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which can trigger heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, heat cramps, heat syncope, and hyperthermia.
The study was published after an in-depth review of publicly available data by the Centers for Disease Control. Some studies have previously been published on this data, but Howard believes that his research reveals a more severe trend of heat-related death than what was previously reported.
Having said that, determining whether a person has died from a heat-related issue is not as straightforward as it seems. The authorities only rely on the information present on death certificates, which, according to critics, means that the actual death toll due to heat spells is much higher than the official numbers.
A 2020 study found that the actual death toll could go as high as 10,000 people every year between 1997 and 2006. Howard also pointed out this issue, stating that it remains to be seen what are the hidden facts behind these numbers and that the researchers still need to know if better data collection could change the findings of these studies.
Heat-related deaths are also rising outside the United States, with a report estimating that almost 47,000 people died in Europe due to these events in 2023 despite the continent’s desperate measures to bring temperature down to sustainable levels.
Health experts recommend adequate water intake, light clothing, and reducing exposure to direct sunlight as ways to avoid the effects of heatwaves.
