Extreme heat may have a harsher effect older people than doctors previously thought. Researchers Stanford University in the USA have said that the body's tolerance heat deteriorates in older people. They added that the continuing rise global temperatures could pose a serious risk illness or death those aged 60 and over. The threat of rising temperatures to the health the over-60s has been seriously underestimated. The researchers said heatwaves will put millions older people risk of a condition called uncompensable heat stress. This is when the body loses its ability to cool itself. This can cause serious damage the body and can even lead to death.
The researchers warned: "Intolerable heat will be experienced much larger scales and longer durations, affecting far more people than previously thought." They said the over-60s are a higher risk because three physical factors — they sweat less, their hearts have to work harder the heat, and their blood vessels expand more slowly. These three things limit the ability the body to cool itself. A director the charity Age UK said she found the conclusions the study alarming. She said: "This study means there's now no denying that extreme heat poses a very real health threat to our older population." Elderly people low-income countries are likely to be highest risk.
