A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a worrying connection between high temperatures and the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the type of stroke caused by a blockage in the arteries leading to the brain.
Conducted by Xinlei Zhu and colleagues from Fudan University in Shanghai, this research utilized data from over 200 stroke centers across China, encompassing 82,455 patients with AIS, to explore how heat affects stroke risk.
The study’s findings are clear and concerning: as temperatures rise, so does the risk of experiencing an AIS. The risk increases immediately with high temperatures, peaking within the first 0 to 10 hours of exposure to extreme heat.
Specifically, when temperatures hit 33.3 degrees Celsius (about 92 degrees Fahrenheit), the odds of having a stroke are 1.88 times higher compared to when the temperature is at a more moderate 12.1 degrees Celsius (approximately 54 degrees Fahrenheit).
Interestingly, the study also discovered that this temperature-stroke risk relationship varies by region, with a sharper increase in risk observed in the northern parts of China compared to the south.
Additionally, certain groups, including men and individuals with a history of dyslipidemia (abnormally high cholesterol or fats in the blood) or atrial fibrillation (a heart condition that can lead to stroke), showed a higher susceptibility to this temperature-related stroke risk, although the differences weren’t deemed statistically significant.
This research underscores the critical need for public health initiatives aimed at reducing heat exposure and improving access to cooling resources, especially for those at increased risk of AIS.
As global temperatures continue to rise, understanding and addressing the health impacts of heat exposure becomes even more urgent.
This study serves as a reminder of the importance of protective measures against heat, particularly for vulnerable populations, to prevent stroke and other heat-related health issues.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about Half of people with heart rhythm diseases dying of heart attack, stroke and findings of New method reduces heart attacks and strokes over five years.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
