A new study conducted by researchers from the Columbia University suggests that in spite of the global warming the increasingly warm temperatures will not lead to the decrease of death rates during the cold season. The paper was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
The scientists involved in the study analyzed the climate temperatures over a period of 36 years, from 1971 to 2007. They compared the fatality rates with the average temperature registered in 36 cities in the US and three important towns from France. That’s how the researchers determined the way in which climate changes could influence the health of older people.
The findings of the study were surprising. It seems that in over three decades the global temperatures rose steadily, but no change was observed in the number of deaths. People might assume that since temperatures are increasing the death rates in winter may be lower. However the lead author of the study, Professor Patrick Kinney, said that it would be wrong to make this assumption since their research indicates that there is no connection between increasing temperatures and number of deaths.
The mortality stayed the same even after interchanging warm winter with cold winter and the other way around. So climate changes are neither beneficial nor harmful for people’s health. According to Professor Kinney the majority of people who die in winter do not die because of cold. The cause of their death is linked with respiratory diseases such as flu. However the holiday season can have some contribution because that is when older people interact with younger generations from their families. That is how the elderly come into contact with bugs which children might bring from school.
In addition winter deaths can also be influenced by the designs of the cities, the demographics and the socio-economic backgrounds. Moreover weather factors do not play such an important part as lifetime changes do. Even if you do not go outside during winter, this does not guarantee that you are protected because staying indoors can increase the spread of diseases such as influenza which can enhance the death rates. Besides staying indoors means that people do not have a proper physical activity which can enhance the risk of obesity and consequently the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers recommended that people should maintain a good hygiene and vaccinate in order to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
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