Extreme heat caused by the climate crisis is linked to kidney disease. (Image: iStock)
People in the United States are experiencing a surge in kidney diseases which have been linked to extreme heat due to the current climate crisis. Lauren Kasper, from a dialysis centre in Atlanta, told the Guardian: “The majority of patients you see in a typical outpatient centre are over 60.” She added: “Among these patients, some were in their 20s and 30s, and 40s. The fact that they were a really significant part of the population was really surprising.”
In 2022, she co-authored a study suggesting that people who work in increasingly hot climates may be at higher risk for kidney disease. “It’s not just the heat, but also the humidity – that combination is very damaging to the body and can make people very dehydrated,” Kasper said.
When the body is exposed to extreme heat, the cardiovascular system suffers serious consequences as it works overtime to keep the body at a safe temperature. Over time, experts say, these functions take a toll on organs such as the heart and kidneys, especially for people who exercise outdoors.
Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, said: “There are certainly risks for those working outdoors in terms of chronic diseases, the main one being chronic kidney disease of unknown origin. With further research, others are likely to emerge.”
According to many researchers, it is still unclear whether heat is the primary cause of the disease in healthy young people or whether factors such as pesticides, contaminated drinking water or the use of painkillers also contribute.
“We think of heat as an accelerator” of kidney damage that accumulates over time, said Shuchi Anand, a nephrologist at Stanford University.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.