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Abstract
Recorded deaths from coronary and cerebral thrombosis rise markedly in heat waves.
In a British heat wave with little or no distortion due to air-conditioning, outside
temperatures of 34.6°C (maximum) and 20.8°C (minimum) were followed by peak mortalities
from coronary and cerebral thrombosis one to two days later. Experimental exposure
of volunteers to moving air at 41°C for six hours caused core temperature to rise
0.84°C, weight to fall 1.83 kg with sweating despite access to water, heart rate to
increase 32 beats per minute, and arterial pressure to fall, particularly on standing.
The red blood cell count increased 9 percent, and blood viscosity increased 24 percent,
mostly after the first hour. The platelet count rose 18 percent, and the platelet
volume fell, mostly in the first hour. The plasma cholesterol level increased 14 percent
without a change in distribution among lipoprotein fractions. The changes seem able
to explain the increased mortality from arterial thrombosis in hot weather.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
October 11,
1985
Received:
September 25,
1985
Footnotes
☆This work was supported by a Medical Research Council Program Grant, and by the Health Research Promotion Trust.
Identification
Copyright
© 1986 Published by Elsevier Inc.
