Heat Islands and Chronic Disease: Could African Americans Be More Vulnerable to Heat-Related Health Impacts?
J Natl Black Nurses Assoc
; 33(1): 33-39, 2022 Jul.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37520179
ABSTRACT
Global warming and environmental heat stress are public health concerns. Urban heat islands, metropolitan areas with higher temperatures compared to their surrounding rural areas, compound the effects of increased environmental heat. In addition to acute heat-related illness, increased environmental heat is linked to exacerbation of chronic diseases. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of heat islands and how the effects of heat stress intersect with chronic diseases in the African American (AA) community. Across the United States, AAs are more likely to reside in heat islands, resulting in greater exposure to environmental heat. Unfortunately, chronic diseases exacerbated by increased environmental heat disproportionately impact the AA community. Due to the intersection of these disparities, heat-related health risks are likely higher for the AAs. The increased health risks posed by urban heat island exposure on AAs have significant implications for nursing practice, research, and policy.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Black or African American
/
Hot Temperature
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
J Natl Black Nurses Assoc
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS SOCIAIS
/
ENFERMAGEM
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article