Thermal physiology, more relevant than ever before

Extreme heat in the United States is already the nation’s top weather-related killer. On a global scale, the devastating direct and indirect health impacts of acute and chronic heat exposure are evident every year in places such as India, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, and Western Europe to name a few. As the warming effects of anthropogenic climate change continue to take hold, heat will be an enduring health hazard for decades to come. History has taught us that during heat extremes people with a low physiological and/or behavioral adaptative capacity are at the greatest risk. The most vulnerable groups include older adults, infants, people of all ages with chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease), and outdoor workers (1) [...]