As of: March 29, 2024, 8:30 p.m
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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Heat weakens the immune system and promotes inflammation in the body, researchers have found. This also increases the risk of heart disease.
Intense sizzling in the heat can lead to sunstroke, sunburn and, in the long term, skin cancer. Everyone is probably aware of that. Researchers at the University of Louisville have now discovered that it can also weaken the immune system and trigger dangerous inflammation and even a heart attack. Apparently just one day in the sun is enough for the immune system to go on alert.
Sunbathing and heat are even more unhealthy than previously thought
Sunbathing not only damages the skin, it also increases the risk of a heart attack (symbolic image). © Westend61/Imago
If you ask a dermatologist, you will hear that there is no such thing as “healthy sunbathing.” Even a slight tan indicates damage to the skin caused by UV radiation. A tan is always sun damage, as the
World Health Organization (WHO)
warns. In addition, the sun promotes the formation of birthmarks and freckles and causes the skin to age faster.
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But apparently heat and sun are even more harmful than previously thought. Because they can weaken the immune system, increase inflammatory markers in the blood and thus increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as the current US study shows. The team led by lead author Daniel Riggs was able to show that after just one day in the sun, certain inflammatory markers increase in the blood, which are normally a reaction of the body to injuries and infections. If this inflammatory reaction persists over a long period of time, it can promote the formation of plaque in the arteries, lead to atherosclerosis and, in the long term, even trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Inflammatory markers already increased at 24.5 degrees
The group presented their research results at the American Heart Association
's “Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health” conference
in Chicago. The study was based on blood samples from 624 participants in the
Louisville Green Heart Project,
which studies the influence of green neighborhoods on air quality and the occurrence of heart disease. The average temperature on the days the blood samples were taken was 24.5 degrees.
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The researchers focused on certain molecules that the immune system produces when it detects an injury. These molecules in turn trigger an inflammatory reaction. This process is usually intended to eliminate pathogens and foreign bodies.
They found that:
An important inflammatory marker that plays a role in cardiovascular diseases was increased: TNF-alpha
In hot weather the number of white blood cells (monocytes and killer T cells) increases, heat appears to trigger inflammation and an immune response
Infection-fighting white blood cells, the B cells, declined. This could make the person more susceptible to infections
Study author Dr. Riggs: "As global temperatures rise, the association between heat exposure and a temporarily weakened immune system response is of concern, as temperature and humidity are known to be important environmental factors in the transmission of infectious airborne diseases."
However, the study also has weaknesses. The blood values were only checked on a single day. Additionally, researchers didn't know how long a person was exposed to heat before their blood was drawn. Future studies that track changes in the blood over time are needed to investigate harmful effects of high temperatures on inflammation in the body.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.