pathway · Public research summary
Extreme heat, cardiovascular strain and heart events
Time-series and cohort studies link heatwaves to spikes in cardiovascular events, especially among older adults; heat strain and dehydration are the proposed intermediates.
Educational only. Associations do not establish individual risk or diagnosis. Read the original sources and limitations.
Illustrative pathway
Extreme heat → Heat strain & dehydration → Heart disease
Relationship
Probable link: Consistent evidence with plausible mechanism; some gaps remain.
Evidence and uncertainty
Cohort studies; moderate uncertainty.
Summary
Time-series and cohort studies link heatwaves to spikes in cardiovascular events, especially among older adults; heat strain and dehydration are the proposed intermediates.
Limitations
Heat alerts, air conditioning access and behaviour change blur exposure measurement; humidity and night-time temperature matter as much as peak readings.
Data status
Synthetic illustration only. Map widths are not patient counts, prevalence, study effect sizes or personal risks. A paper does not validate every arrow.
Regional browsing relevance
Global; Southeast Asia; South Asia; Australia, NZ & Pacific; Europe; Middle East & North Africa