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U.S. Heat-Related Deaths on the Rise

THURSDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- While the death count from the continuing heat wave in the United States climbs past 100, a new government report details the toll of heat-related deaths between 1999 and 2003.

And most of those deaths, often seen among low-income persons, could have been avoided, officials say.

The current heat wave, which has engulfed much of the nation, has claimed 81 lives in California, 10 in Oklahoma and nine in St. Louis. The victims were mostly older people who, along with the very young and those with chronic medical conditions, are most vulnerable to the threats posed by heat.

"Exposure to excessive heat can cause serious illness. It is one of the major weather-related causes of death," said report author George Luber, an epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Every one of those deaths is preventable if folks are aware of some on the preventive measures."

Taking into account all possible deaths that could be heat-related from 1999 to 2003, heat-related deaths increased by 54 percent, suggesting that the number of heat-related deaths had previously been underestimated, the report said.

During this period, a total of 3,442 deaths resulting from exposure to extreme heat were reported, or about 688 deaths a year. Most of the deaths, 66 percent, were among men.

Of the 3,401 victims for whom age information was available, 7 percent were under 15 years old, 53 percent were aged 15 to 64 years, and 40 percent were older than 65. The highest death tolls were in Arizona, followed by Nevada and Missouri.

"The actual number of deaths varies as heat waves come and go," Luber said. "We do have evidence that these events are going to increase in frequency, severity and duration as global climate changes," he added.

The report is published in the July 28 issue of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heatstroke can occur when high temperatures overcome the body's ability to dissipate heat. Older adults, young children, and persons with chronic medical conditions are particularly susceptible to these illnesses and are at high risk for heat-related death, the CDC said.

"The risk factors for death from heat correlate strongly with the conditions you find in poverty," said Luber. "People who have access to three hours of air-conditioning a day are less likely to die."

Living alone and being elderly are other risk factors for death, Luber said.

"Many of the risk factors -- poor health, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease -- are all risk factors for heat-related death, and we find that many of those conditions are at increased rates with lower socioeconomic status," he said.

Dr. Jane Potter, president of the American Geriatric Society, thinks older people need to take particular caution during heat waves.

"Older people are most at risk for heat-related death," said Potter, a professor of medicine at the University of Nebraska. "Changes in physiology affect how a person responds to heat as they age. It is also due to chronic heart and lung disease, which is increasingly prevalent in this population, and some of the medications older people take."

One key vulnerability, according to Potter, is that older people don't sweat as much as younger people. "Since body cooling occurs with sweating and evaporation, people shouldn't use just fans, because fans work only when you sweat. So you have to take cool baths or spray yourself to get cooling from evaporation," she said.

"You really see the problem where air-conditioning is not common," Potter added.

The CDC offers these other tips for staying healthy during a heat wave:

• avoiding strenuous outdoor activities;
• drink adequate amounts of fluid, and avoid alcohol;
• wear lightweight clothing;
• use air-conditioning, if possible.

More information

The American Geriatric Society can tell you more about beating the heat.