Extreme Heat Could Lead to 233% Increase in U.S. Excess Cardiovascular Deaths

A new study in Circulation predicts that over the coming decades, excess cardiovascular deaths could increase by as much as 233% annually in the U.S. In extreme heat, our bodies can’t cool down enough, damaging organs; if blood pressure falls too low or hearts beat too fast, heart attack, stroke, or heart failure may follow. That's why a warmer world means more people will die.

Black adults would see more than four times the increase in deaths as white adults. Elderly adults would suffer more than younger adults, as would countries with more extreme heat, more population density, and fewer resources. Read more from STAT News here.