According to a study published in the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change, repeated heat waves are associated with an acceleration of the “biological age” of the body.

This means that the body can show signs of aging faster than would be expected from a person’s actual age alone.

The effect observed by the researchers was compared to the long-term effects associated with known risk factors, such as alcohol consumption. and smoking.

The study analyzed the health records of 24,922 people in Taiwan, followed over a 15-year period, from 2008 to 2022.

The researchers compared about 30 heat waves recorded during this period with the results of the participants’ medical examinations.

To determine heat exposure, they correlated the temperatures recorded in different areas with residential addresses of individuals.

“Biological age” is not measured simply by the number of years lived, but through indicators of the body’s functioning, such as blood pressure, inflammation, organ function, metabolic parameters and other factors that indicate the real state of the organism.

According to the researchers, the greater the exposure to extreme temperatures, the greater the difference between chronological and biological age.

The most obvious effects were observed in people who lived in rural areas, in workers who performed physical activities outside, and in communities where the use of air conditioners was more limited.

This shows that climate change does not affect everyone in the same way, but hits groups that have less protection against extreme temperatures.

However, the study also suggests a positive element. The use of cooling technologies and adaptation to high temperatures can reduce some of this impact.

As heat waves become more frequent due to climate change, scientists warn that protection from extreme temperatures should be seen not only as a matter of comfort, but also as a measure for long-term health preservation. . tesheshi.com

Source: prizrenpost