Heat exposure can increase inflammation and impair the immune system. AFP
Heat exposure can increase inflammation and impair the immune system. AFP
Heat exposure can increase inflammation and impair the immune system. AFP
Heat exposure can increase inflammation and impair the immune system. AFP

Feeling the heat? It might be making you more prone to illness


Marwa Hassan
  • English
  • Arabic

Exposure to high temperatures reduces the ability to fight infection, a study has found.

It may increase inflammation in the body and interfere with the immune system's functions, increasing susceptibility to infections and worsening existing heart problems.

The study results were shared at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention in Chicago.

Daniel Riggs, lead study author and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Louisville, told The National: “Exposure to heat results in physiological stress and high temperatures can activate the innate immune system and induce inflammation."

This is partly due to the heat-making toxins that leak from the intestines, leading to inflammation, he said.

The study involved recruiting participants during the summer months in Louisville, Kentucky, where temperatures are usually 29°C to 35°C, and analysing their blood for markers of inflammation and immune-system function.

“To estimate heat exposure, we used daily averages of ambient outdoor temperatures and the Universal Thermal Climate Index, a heat metric incorporating temperature, humidity, wind speed and ultraviolet radiation, designed to reflect a person’s thermal perception more accurately,” Dr Riggs said.

The analysis found for every 5ºC increase in UTCI, there was an increase in the levels of key markers of inflammation in the blood.

This indicates that relatively small changes in perceived temperature can significantly affect inflammation and immune-system markers.

The findings indicated that being exposed to the heat raises the number of some blood cells and a protein that leads to swelling and irritation in the body.

Higher temperatures were also linked to decreased levels of B-cells, crucial for producing antibodies to fight off infections.

“This suggests that exposure to high temperatures may impair our ability to fight off infectious agents,” Dr Riggs said.

Certain groups are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of heat.

“Older adults [over 65s] and people with cardiovascular disease are particularly at risk from the health effects of high heat,” Dr Riggs said.

This showed the need for protective measures, especially in hot climates such as the Middle East.

“The first heatwave of the summer is typically the most dangerous, as people have not had the opportunity to acclimatise to the higher temperatures," Dr Riggs said.

“Some practical strategies to minimise the harmful effects of heat exposure include increasing fluid intake, staying in cool or air-conditioned environments, wearing loose-fitting clothes and reducing activity levels."

As this study was published, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) issued a report highlighting record-breaking climate events in 2023.

Records were again broken, and in some cases smashed, for greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea-level rise, Antarctic sea ice cover and glacier retreat, the WMO said.

Heart attack risk

Another research published in Circulation reveals that extreme heat combined with fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) significantly increases the risk of fatal heart attacks, especially among women and older adults.

Analysing more than 202,000 fatal heart attacks in Jiangsu province, China, from 2015 to 2020, the study found the combination of extreme heat and high levels of PM2.5 to be particularly deadly.

Yuewei Liu, senior author of the study, emphasised the preventive angle.

“Our findings provide evidence that reducing exposure to both extreme temperatures and fine particulate pollution may be useful to prevent premature deaths from heart attack, especially for women and older adults,” Dr Yuewei said.

Both sets of research underline the critical importance of public awareness and action to mitigate the health risks associated with extreme temperatures and air pollution, and the need for adaptive strategies to protect vulnerable populations.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go

The flights

Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return. 

The trek

Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required. 

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Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
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How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

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Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
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Investment raised: $4 million 
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Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah 
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology 
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million 
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

RESULTS

Manchester United 2

Anthony Martial 30'

Scott McTominay 90 6' 

Manchester City 0

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New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: March 20, 2024, 5:19 AM