THOMASFRICKEup in the arteries. This results in wors-
ening cardiovascular disease and more
climate-related strokes, with ongoing
research suggesting that those with
risk factors such as diabetes and
hypertension might experience more
pronounced effects. According to the
European Heart Journal research, up
to 80 per cent of those killed by air
pollution may actually be dying from
heart attacks, strokes and other cardio-
vascular problems.
Hot temperatures are dangerous, too,
as they interfere with the regulation of
internal temperature through blood
flow. “Heat is a stress on the body,” Dib-
ble explains. “It makes it a lot tougher
to maintain the right fluid balance.”
While several other countries are
achieving reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions such as carbon dioxide
and methane, Canada increased its
emissions between 1990 and 2016, due
to activities like driving, heating our
homes, manufacturing and mining.
At least 90 people were killed in the
heat wave that smothered parts of Que-
bec last summer. In Toronto, heat is
blamed for 120 deaths a year. Children
and older people are at higher risk of
life-threatening heat stroke because
their central nervous systems aren’t
as efficient at regulating body tem-
perature. Outdoor workers, people
taking certain medications (including
diuretics or beta blockers) and people
with chronic conditions can also have
trouble coping.“When it’s extremely hot, it affects
me vastly,” says Mercedes Jasmine, a
Nigerian-born refugee who came to
Montreal last year with her young
daughter. Jasmine, 37, has been in and
out of hospitals most of her life with
sickle cell disease, a blood abnormal-
ity. Heat can dehydrate her, leading to
a painful blood-vessel blockage that
requires emergency treatment.
But the single mom, who trained as
a physician in Nigeria, can’t afford the
air conditioning she critically needs.
She’s on social assistance while she
upgrades her Canadian skills. “I’m
worried,” she admits. “Climate change
is real and is affecting everybody, but
for the vulnerable people, when it’s too
hot, it’s terrible.”
Even people without medical condi-
tions should drink lots of water, lower
their activity and wear loose, breath-
able clothing during intensely hot
weather. Air conditioning will lower
humidity while cooling you down, but
not everyone has it—or a power failure
may mean you can’t use it.YYYOURRRIMMMMMUNNEE
SSSYYSTEEMM CCCANN’TT
FFIIGHTTT IINNFFECCTTIONNN
In 2014, Winnipeg nurse Keri Wizbicki
was at a salon when the hairdresser
suddenly shrieked and jumped away.
A blacklegged tick was lodged in her
scalp. “The stylist dug it out with her
fingers,” says Wizbicki, 38, who hadreader’s digest
38 october 2019