Author: Lillian L. Witting, MPH, CAPM – Senior Coordinator, Research and Programs  

The National Health Council is proud to release the next installment of its research brief series focused on extreme heat.  

Climate change has become a rising public health concern as it can disrupt the health care ecosystem, but a more concerning factor is exposure to extreme heat, which can have severe long-term health effects. As hotter days become more frequent, the effects of higher temperatures put patients with one or more chronic conditions and members of vulnerable communities at a higher risk for negative health outcomes including the exacerbation of existing condition/s, heat stress, heat-related illness, or even heat stroke. These effects are also disproportionate for vulnerable populations such as pediatrics, older adults, historically underrepresented racial/ethnic communities, and pregnant people. Ensuring that these marginalized groups are prioritized during mitigation efforts will ensure better health for current and future generations.  

Efforts to mitigate heat exposure and other climate change impacts often occur through high level policies, but more institutional and individual level programs can be beneficial. For example, medical institutions are integrating climate and health into their curriculum to improve provider knowledge. In addition, improving climate conversations can provide more targeted discussions with patients about how environmental risks affect their health and how that might affect their decision-making regarding the management and treatment of a chronic condition/s. While more research is needed to identify better engagement strategies, this opens an opportunity to elevate and utilize the patient experience to better inform future heat mitigation efforts and address heat-related disparities.  

To learn more about the effects of exposure to extreme heat and NHC recommendations to patient communities, patient organizations, institutions, and policy makers, please check out our new climate research brief.