Scientists have proven that heat waves accelerate aging
Heat accelerates the aging of the body.
A study in Taiwan has shown that even a few extra hot days a year can “add” extra biological age to the body.
Prolonged exposure to heat waves accelerates the aging process of the body in the same way as smoking, alcohol or poor nutrition. This conclusion was reached by scientists, the results of which were published in the journal Nature Climate Change, writes The Guardian.
For 15 years, scientists observed more than 25 thousand people in Taiwan to find out how heat affects biological age – an indicator that reflects not only the years of life, but also the state of health. To do this, they took into account cholesterol levels, blood pressure, lung, liver and kidney function, as well as markers of inflammation.
The results were alarming: every four additional days of heat in two years “added” a person nine days of biological age. People who work outdoors were particularly vulnerable – their aging was accelerated even more, up to 33 days.
“If the impact of heat accumulates for decades, the health consequences will be much more serious than we are already seeing,” said the head of the study, Dr. Tsui Guo from the University of Hong Kong.
The scientists concluded: repeated exposure to heat waves poses a long-term danger to the entire population, as it gradually accelerates the aging of the body and increases the risk of premature death.
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