The quantity of heat retained in the human body results from a combination of factors, including the challenge of dissipating internally generated heat due to metabolic activities under environmental heat stress conditions such as elevated temperature, high humidity, minimal airflow, and thermal radiation; clothing that impedes heat dissipation; and, additional heat absorption from the environment.
These conditions impair the body’s ability to regulate internal temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The body’s effort to cool itself under such circumstances also stresses the heart and kidneys. As a result, extreme heat can exacerbate health issues related to chronic conditions, including cardiovascular, mental, and respiratory diseases and diabetes, and can lead to acute kidney injury.
Hospitalizations and deaths related to extreme heat can occur quickly, frequently on the same day and in the days following a heat event, requiring rapid interventions once a heat alert is issued. Further, excessive heat can disrupt essential health services, causing power and transportation outages. It can also hinder work productivity and increase the likelihood of accidents.
Accomplishing tasks or engaging in educational activities can be challenging in extreme heat. Heat waves can result in the closure of schools and other institutions, coinciding with dangerous air pollution incidents. The extent and nature of heat-related health impacts hinge on a heat event’s timing, intensity, and duration and the degree of acclimatization and adaptability of the local populace, infrastructure, and institutions.
Infographic: Scale and nature of the health impacts of heat
(Source: www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-heat-and-health)
© 2025 WHO.
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