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Esophageal Heat Transfer for Patient Temperature Control and Targeted Temperature Management
Published on: November 21, 2017
Heat and the Heart
Yash Desai1, Haitham Khraishah2, Barrak Alahmad3,4,5
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Insights
Extreme heat significantly impacts heart health, worsening cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke. More research is crucial to understand heat
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of mortality.
- Extreme heat poses significant risks to cardiovascular health, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationship between heat exposure and major cardiovascular diseases.
- To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying heat's adverse effects on the heart.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of physiological responses to high temperatures.
Main Results:
- Heat exposure is linked to increased risks of ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmia.
- Physiological responses to heat include dehydration, increased metabolic demand, hypercoagulability, electrolyte imbalances, and systemic inflammation, straining the heart.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the mechanisms linking heat and cardiovascular disease requires further research.
- Clinical guidelines are needed to manage cardiovascular conditions during heat events, emphasizing the role of healthcare professionals in addressing climate change impacts on health.
Abstract:
Globally, more people die from cardiovascular disease than any other cause. Extreme heat can have serious implications for heart health, especially in people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. In this review, we examined the relationship between heat and the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases as well as the proposed physiological mechanisms for the deleterious effect of heat on the heart. The body's response to high temperatures, including dehydration, increased metabolic demand, hypercoagulability, electrolyte imbalances, and systemic inflammatory response, can place a significant strain on the heart. Epidemiological studies showed that heat can result in ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmia. However, targeted research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of hot temperatures on these main causes of cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, the absence of clinical guidance on how to manage heart diseases during heat events highlights the need for cardiologists and other health professionals to lead the charge in addressing the critical relationship between a warming climate and health.
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