In a recent study, researchers from Helmholtz Munich and the Augsburg University Hospital led by Dr. Alexandra Schneider show that nocturnal heat significantly increases the risk of stroke. The findings can contribute to the development of preventive measures: With them, the population can better protect themselves against the risks of climate change with increasingly frequent hot nights.
In addition, knowledge of the consequences of hot nights can improve patient care. "We wanted to understand the extent to which high nighttime temperatures pose a health risk," says the head of the working group Environmental Risks at Helmholtz Munich. "This is important because climate change is causing nighttime temperatures to rise much faster than daytime temperatures.
" In their study , published in the European Heart Journal , the researchers analyzed data from Augsburg University Hospital. Its Department of Neurology has collected data on about 11,000 strokes over 15 years. The analysis shows that extreme heat at night increases the risk of stroke by 7%.
"Elderly people and women are particularly at risk, and it is mainly strokes with mild symptoms that are diagnosed in clinics after hot nights," says the study's lead author, Dr. Cheng He. "Our results make it clear that adjustments in urban planning and the health care system are extremely important to reduce the risks posed by rising night-time temperatures.
" "We were able to show that the risk of stroke associated with high nighttim.
