A double-edged sword: risks and benefits of heat for human health

Hannah Pallubinsky; Denis P Blondin; Ollie Jay

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2024.02.015

A double-edged sword: risks and benefits of heat for human health

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Apr;35(4):277-279. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.02.015.

Authors

Hannah Pallubinsky¹, Denis P Blondin², Ollie Jay³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6211KL Maastricht, The Netherlands; Healthy Living Spaces Laboratory, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany. Electronic address: h.pallubinsky@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada.
³ Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, Heat and Health Research Incubator, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

PMID: 38593784
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.02.015

Abstract

Extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense across the globe. In this science and society article we summarize how heat affects our body and discuss the associated health threats, but also the potential health benefits of heat exposure. Moreover, we provide practical suggestions for sustainable and health-oriented strategies to cope with heat.

Keywords: climate change adaptation; extreme heat events; health impacts; heat exposure; metabolic health.

MeSH terms

Climate Change
Extreme Heat*
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Risk Assessment