Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Heat waves' impact on renters, vulnerable populations, and global health trends

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Heat waves' impact on renters, vulnerable populations, and global health trends · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chiao.
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I am your host, Doctor Chaming Chiao.
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In today's episode, we will delve into some pressing health topics, making headlines around
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the world.
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We will begin by discussing the alarming correlation between heat waves and higher
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mortality rates, particularly in cities with a higher proportion of renters.
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This is a crucial issue, a especially as millions are currently under heat warnings from
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Ontario Eastport.
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Later, we will explore how extreme heat threatens and safety, examine a study linking
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insufficient sleep in children to higher blood pressure, and share a simple lifestyle change
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that could help prevent low back pain.
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But first, let's dive into our main story.
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And 2, a new study released by Statistics Canada has found a higher than average risk of
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death, particularly among those age sixty five and over during stretches of extreme heat in
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many of Canada's largest cities over the past 2 decades.
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The research highlights the increased health risks associated with exposure to unusually
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warm temperatures especially in cities with a higher proportion of renters.
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This study is particularly timely, as millions are currently under heat warnings from Ontario
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East word.
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Matthew Quicke, the author of the study and a research analyst at Statistics Canada, noted
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that the risk of dying tends to increase during days classified as extreme heat events compared
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to non extreme heat events.
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Between 2020, approximately 670 more deaths than usual, were recorded in the country's 12
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largest cities during periods of extreme heat that lasted 2 days or longer.
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The criteria for what constitutes an extreme heat event varies by region and is defined by
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environment and climate change Canada.
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Interestingly, cities where extreme heat events are less common saw a greater spike in deaths
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when temperatures soared.
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Quick suggests that this might point to acclimatization where the body's ability to
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deal with heat varies and the extent to which adaptation measures are in place.
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The research also found higher mortality rates during heat waves in cities with more renters,
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likely because renters are less likely to have air conditioning compared to homeowners.
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This finding aligns with Quick's previous study on the subject.
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This latest study adds to a growing body of research showing the adverse effects of extreme
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heat on vulnerable populations.
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For instance, a report on the week long heat dome in British Columbia in 2021 found that
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most people who died were elderly had a disability lived in poorer neighborhoods or
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lived alone.
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During that week, which fell outside the time period for the Statistics Canada study, more
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than 600 deaths were identified as being heat related.
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Doctor Matthew Bennett, a cardiologist in Vancouver, noted that the health system felt
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the strain during that exceptionally hot period.
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Research suggests that longer heat waves carry greater health risks.
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Doctor, Bennett pointed out that ambulance attendance and emergency rooms were the first
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to see the impact.
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Although it is difficult to ascertain a specific cause of death, There is substantial
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evidence indicating that people could die from cardiovascular causes during extreme heat
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events.
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Doctor Bennett recommends that everyone should have planned for staying cool during prolonged
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heat periods, either at home or at another location with air conditioning.
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He also advises checking in on family members and friends who might be at risk.
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The findings from this study come amid ongoing heat warnings affecting millions in parts of
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Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, as well as large swaths of the United States.
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Research indicates that heat waves are becoming increasingly extreme as the climate continues
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to warm.
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A report last month by Climate Central in collaboration with world weather attribution
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and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center examined 76 extreme heat waves across ninety
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countries over a 12 month period starting in May 2023.
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The report revealed that 6,300,000,000 people roughly 78% of the global population
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experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat that were made at least two times more likely
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due to human caused climate change.
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Environment and climate change Canada is forecasting higher than normal temperatures
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throughout most of Canada this summer following the hottest year on record.
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It's a stark reminder of the importance of being prepared for extreme heat events and
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understanding their potential health impacts.
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As always, stay informed and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your loved
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ones from the dangers of extreme heat.
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With extreme heat gripping much of the northern hemisphere this week, Authorities and public
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health experts have issued heat warnings to help keep people safe.
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Parts of China, India, the Middle East, Southern Europe and the United States are
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bracing for the possibility of new record highs.
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Heat affects health in several ways.
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Heat exhaustion, which can include dizziness, headaches, shaking, and thirst, can affect
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anyone and is not usually serious, providing the person cools down within 30 minutes.
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The more serious version is heat stroke, when the body's core temperature goes above 40.6
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degrees Celsius or 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
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And can lead to long term organ damage and death.
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Symptoms include rapid breathing, confusion, or seizures, and nausea.
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As climate change continues to drive temperatures upward in the coming years, the
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danger of humidity is also expected to rise.
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Warmer air can hold more moisture and more moisture in the air makes it harder for people
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to sweat to cool down.
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Some people are more vulnerable to extreme heat.
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This includes young babies, older people, and those who must stay active or are more exposed,
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such as homeless individuals, existing conditions, including respiratory and
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cardiovascular diseases as well as diabetes can also heighten risk and be exacerbated by heat.
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Many countries do not record heat as a specific cause of death, which means we do not have
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statistics to gauge this risk on communities.
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However, a 2021 study in the Lancet estimated that just under a half million deaths can be
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attributed to excess heat every year, a conservative count that lacks data from many
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low income countries.
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Many in Europe fear a repeat of the 2022 summer during which heat waves killed an estimated
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61,000 people.
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Scientists said, the risks will continue to rise as climate change pushes global
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temperatures even higher in the coming decades.
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Apart from testing a body's internal thermostat, extreme heat can pose a host of
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other secondary risks.
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Warmer temperatures encourage the growth of bacteria and algae raising the risk of water
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being contaminated with diseases like cholera or water bodies becoming choked with toxic
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algae, heat can also damage crops, adding to concerns about food security.
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Starting from 2030, experts expect that global death tolls will increase by 250,000 per year
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as a result of 4 climate related health risks.
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Heats stress malnutrition associated with food insecurity, malaria, and diarrhea, according to
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the World Health Organization.
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Wildfires fueled by dried out trees or shrubs can lead to dangerous levels of air pollution,
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which can cause lung inflammation, and tissue damage.
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Studies have also suggested that both extreme heat as well as exposure to wildfire smoke
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could be linked with low birth weight and premature births.
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Heat stress can also contribute to poorer mental health.
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Rising nighttime temperatures can disrupt people's sleep patterns, worsening mental
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health outcomes.
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Experts say more deaths occur earlier in the summer when people's bodies have not had a
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chance to acclimatize to the season.
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Location matters too.
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People are at higher risk in places where they are not used to such heat, including parts of
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Europe.
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As outdoor work becomes dangerous amid high temperatures, some countries and communities
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have shuttered schools or forced a shortening of daytime work hours for businesses.
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Public health agencies from India to the United States have issued advice on keeping cool,
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including avoiding exertion where possible and staying hydrated.
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Authorities often aim to help by setting up cooling centers, distributing extra water or
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providing free access to air conditioned public transport.
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Workers should think about having more breaks and changing their clothing too, scientists
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said.
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It is important to check-in on the vulnerable, including older and isolated people.
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Heath stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate professional attention.
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A new study published in the journal pediatrics this week has highlighted a significant link
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between insufficient sleep and elevated blood pressure in children.
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This study underscores the importance of sleep as an essential factor in maintaining
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cardiovascular health, even from a young age.
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Researchers analyze data from 539 children with an average age of 14.6 years who were found to
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sleep for an average of 9.1 hours per night.
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The study revealed that children who went to bed later exhibited worse blood pressure
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parameters during the day, while those who slept for longer durations had reduced blood
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pressure.
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Doctor Amy Kogan, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at the University of
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Pennsylvania Pereman School of Medicine, emphasize that lifestyle factors, including
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sleep, play a crucial role in managing blood pressure in children.
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Traditionally, physicians have focused on diet and physical activity to improve blood
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pressure, but this study suggests that sleep may be an additional facet to consider.
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Interestingly, the researchers found that longer sleep duration was associated with
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blunted nocturnal dipping which refers to the expected drop in blood pressure that occurs
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during sleep.
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Doctor Kogan noted that this finding was unexpected as they initially hypothesized that
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shorter sleep would be associated with blunted nocturnal dipping.
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Instead, It was observed primarily in patients who reported excessive sleep duration.
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Doctor Kogan suggested that children with excessive sleep duration might not be sleeping
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well, possibly due to conditions like sleep apnea or distractions, such as being on their
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phone or watching television late into the night.
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This could explain the blunted nocturnal dipping observed in these children.
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The study did have some limitations as doctor Kogan acknowledged.
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It was a retrospective review of data which means the findings are based on associations
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rather than causation.
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Additionally, the sleep duration was self reported for a 24 hour period and assumed to be
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representative of the children's usual sleep patterns.
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The researchers also did not gather data on sleep quality or sleep disorders.
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High blood pressure is a concern for about 1 in every seven individuals aged twelve to nineteen
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according to the United States Centers for Disease Control And Prevention.
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Just like in adults, children with elevated blood pressure are at higher risk for stroke
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and heart attack.
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Along with sleep, Other risk factors include obesity, physical fitness, diet, and
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environmental stress.
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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children between six and twelve
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years old should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night.
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While those aged thirteen to eighteen need 8 to 10 hours.
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However, studies have shown that a significant number of children and teenagers do not meet
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these sleep guidelines.
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With 6 out of 10 US and middle schoolers and 7 out of 10 high school students falling short on
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school nights.
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Michael Grattisar, head of sleep science at sleepcycle, and a clinical psychologist based
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in Adelaide Australia, pointed out that the biggest obstacle to kids getting sufficient
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sleep might not be screens, but rather their body clock.
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Gratasar explained that children's body clocks tend to be timed later causing them to fall
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asleep and wake up later.
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He suggested using morning bright light therapy to reset the circadian rhythm and normalized
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sleep patterns, noting that this approach has shown promising results in clinical trials.
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Looking ahead, the researchers plan to explore whether sleep promotion interventions could
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improve blood pressure in children.
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Doctor Kogan mentioned that they aim to gather more comprehensive data on sleep quality and
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long term sleep patterns in patients being evaluated for high blood pressure.
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In our last segment today, we turn our attention to a common ailment that affects
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millions of people worldwide, low back pain.
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According to recent research, low back pain impacts at least 619,000,000 individuals
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globally, and this number is expected to rise to 843,000,000 by the year 2050.
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Alarmingly, nearly 70% of people who recover from an episode of low back pain experience a
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recurrence within a year.
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While treatment for low back pain often involves education, physical therapy, and
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exercises like Pilates, that may require fees or specialized equipment, a new study has
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highlighted a much simpler and cost effective preventive measure.
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Walking.
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This randomized clinical trial published in the Lancet found that people who walked regularly
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after experiencing at least one episode of low back pain remained pain free almost twice as
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long as those who did not.
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Mark Hancock, the senior author of the study, and a professor of physiotherapy at Macquarie
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University in Sydney noted that the intervention group had fewer occurrences of
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activity limiting pain compared to the control group.
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Participants in the walking group also had a longer average period before experiencing a
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recurrence with a median of 208 days compared to 112 days for the control group.
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Hancock emphasized that walking is a low cost widely accessible and simple exercise that
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almost anyone can engage in, regardless of geographic location, age, or socioeconomic
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status.
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The study followed 701 Australian adults, mostly women in their fifties who had recently
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recovered from an episode of low back pain that impacted their ability to perform daily
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activities.
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Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group with no intervention or an
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individualized walking and educational program.
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Those in the intervention group were asked to build up to 30 minutes of walking five times a
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week over a 6 month period with speeds adjusted for age, physical capacity, and personal
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preference.
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Jogging was also permitted.
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By the 3 month mark, most participants in the walking group were walking 3 to 5 days a week
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for an average of a 130 minutes in total.
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Participants tracked their progress with pedometers and kept a walking diary.
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They also wore accelerometers at the 3 month point to objectively measure daily step count
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and physiotherapist guided education sessions over 6 months, making it a more cost effective
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model than typical treatments.
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Natasha Bacovey, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Macquarie
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University, pointed out that the walking program not only provided participants with
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longer pain free periods, but also reduced the amount of time taken off work and the number of
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medical visits by half.
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She emphasized that traditional exercise based interventions for preventing back pain often
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require close clinical supervision and expensive equipment.
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Making them less accessible to the majority of patients.
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In contrast, this walking program has the potential to be implemented on a much larger
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scale.
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The study structure made it difficult to determine how much of the benefit was due to
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walking versus the educational program provided by physiotherapists.
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However, Mark Hancock believes that the 2 components likely complement each other.
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Education helps to overcome the fear of movement while the health coaching and walking
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program result in behavior change.
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A, Lynn Miller, a retired physical therapist, and former professor at Winston Salem State
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University, who was not involved in the study suggested that walking might indeed be the key
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reason for improvement due to its simplicity and accessibility.
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Walking offers numerous benefits for the body, particularly for those suffering from low back
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pain.
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For starters, walking reduces the amount of time a person spends sitting, which is not the
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best posture for the back.
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It also improves general circulation enhancing blood flow to the muscles that support the back
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during movement.
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Additionally, walking helps circulate joint fluids benefiting the spinal joints.
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Exercise including walking improves metabolism and helps in burning calories which can ease
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the load on the back and legs, ensuring better spinal health.
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Walking also strengthens core muscles around the spine and in the legs, improving posture,
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and providing better support to the spine.
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It increases muscle endurance making muscles less susceptible to fatigue and injury.
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Weight bearing exercises like walking also increase bone density, protecting against
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injury, while stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain and stress
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relievers.
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When starting a walking program, It is essential to have good shoes and arch supports
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to prevent potential problems.
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Vared paces and distances throughout the week can help avoid issues caused by progressing too
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rapidly.
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If you experience back pain during walking, consider modifying your activity to include
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cycling or swimming and take a day or 2 off to do back exercises and stretching.
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In conclusion, walking is a simple, low cost, and effective way to prevent recurrences of low
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back pain.
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By incorporating this accessible form of exercise into your routine, you can enjoy
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longer pain free periods and improve your overall health.
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Remember, it is always important to consult with a health care professional before starting
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any new exercise program, especially if you have pre existing health conditions.
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That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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Thank you for joining me, and I hope you found our discussions informative and helpful.
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Stay tuned for our next episode.
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Where we will continue to bring you the latest in medical and health news.
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Until next time, take care and stay healthy.