Fact Check Team: How extreme heat can impact your health AND your wallet this summer
Summer officially begins on the Summer Solstice, between June 20 and 22. A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association has found a connection between heat and early births, which increased rates of preterm and early-term pregnancies by 2% and 3%, respectively, after pregnant women experienced higher temperatures for more than four consecutive days. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that there were 2,302 heat-related deaths last year, up from 1,722 the previous year. The number of extreme heat days in some states is five times higher than 40 years ago, highlighting the importance of air conditioning. The average cost of cooling from June to September is expected to reach $719, an 8% increase from last year and up from $476 a decade ago.
公開済み : 3週間前 沿って http://www.facebook.com/FOX29Buffalo, COURTNEY RAU | The National Desk の Weather
Summer officially begins on the Summer Solstice – between June 20 and 22 – and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this could be one of the hottest on record.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a connection between heat and early births.
Researchers analyzed 53 million births across 50 of the most populated metropolitan areas in the U.S. over the last two decades and found rates of preterm and early-term pregnancies increased by 2% and 3%, respectively, after pregnant women experienced higher temperatures for more than four consecutive days.
For context, preterm birth is delivery before 37 weeks and early-term is between 37 and 38 weeks.
There are several risks involved with early births. Indeed, preterm and early-term births are among the leading causes of infant mortality and can cause a variety of health conditions like anemia, cerebral palsy, hearing and vision problems, learning disabilities and underdeveloped organs.
Heat affects health in several ways and is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, heat-related deaths are on the rise. Last year, there were 2,302 heat-related deaths, up from 1,722 the year before. Back in 2004, however, there were only 297.
The number of extreme heat days in some states is five times higher than 40 years ago, highlighting the importance of air conditioning. However, air conditioning is expected to be more expensive this year.
According to a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average cost of cooling your home from June to September is set to hit $719, which is almost 8% higher than last year and up from an average of $476 a decade ago.
These costs vary geographically. For example, costs will be as low as $580 on average in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio but could be as high as $860 in states like Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
If we look at the percent increase from last summer by region, the mid-Atlantic and Pacific are expected to see the biggest jumps – both over 12% -- while the west-south-central is expected to see an increase of just over 2%.
トピック: Fact-Checking