Heatwaves Caused 2,985 Excess Deaths in 2022 as Heart and Stroke Risks Rose Above 25C
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 28
Heatwaves Caused 2,985 Excess Deaths in 2022 as Heart and Stroke Risks Rose Above 25C
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 28
2,985 excess deaths were linked to heat in 2022, the highest annual total on record, after England logged a record 40.3C temperature.
Above about 25C-26C, the body widens blood vessels and sweats more, lowering blood pressure and straining the heart; that process can trigger heat exhaustion, heart attacks and strokes.
Deaths tend to rise within the first 24 hours of a heatwave, and evidence suggests spring or early-summer hot spells can be deadlier than peak summer because people are less acclimatized.
Older people, babies, those with heart disease, diabetes or dementia, less mobile people, the homeless and residents of top-floor flats face higher risk; some medicines can also worsen dehydration or impair cooling.
UKHSA advises keeping indoor spaces cool, avoiding sun from 11:00 to 15:00, drinking fluids, and treating suspected heat exhaustion quickly before it progresses to heatstroke.
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The Summer Europe Lost 61,672 Lives: Heatwave Mortality, Vulnerability, and the Path Forward
Overview
The summer of 2022 was the hottest ever recorded in Europe, leading to a devastating wave of heat-related deaths. Between May and September, over 61,000 people died from heat, a toll that highlighted the unprecedented danger of extreme temperatures. This tragedy echoed the deadly summer of 2003, which had already prompted the creation of adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable groups. However, the scale of the 2022 disaster showed that current prevention plans and heat surveillance systems are not enough, making it urgent to reevaluate and strengthen efforts to safeguard public health as heatwaves become more frequent and intense.