Unveiling the Unseen Effects of Heat on Body and Mind

The impact of heat extends far beyond our recognition. In July 2023, a new record for the hottest day globally was set, eclipsing the previous day’s high. California’s Death Valley registered temperatures nearing 130 degrees Fahrenheit, among the highest ever documented.

These consequences stem from just a 1-degree Celsius temperature increase — an early signal of a world projected to warm by threefold or more on its current trajectory.

Heat is a unique adversary. In the United States, it outstrips hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined in causing deaths. Yet, it’s also a silent assassin, with many of its effects on our bodies shrouded in mystery. Our knowledge remains limited to a fraction of its lethal impact. Moreover, vulnerable groups bear the brunt, disproportionately affecting older individuals, lower-income segments, outdoor laborers, and prisoners-while the rest of society often turns a blind eye from air-conditioned comfort.

In the shadows of heat waves, numerous non-fatal health consequences emerge. The toll compounds with the duration of heat waves, a scenario unfolding this summer worldwide.

Nevertheless, even the most sophisticated metric for comprehending heat’s consequences is flawed. Most health research on heat primarily examines fatalities…