The increase in temperatures due to global warming could have implications beyond just discomfort. A recent study reveals that constant exposure to extreme heat can accelerate the biological process of aging, which would lead to the body aging quicker even if the chronological age doesn't.

The University of Southern California (USC) study focused on determining the effect of extended exposure to increased temperatures on the cells in the human body. It appears that residents in regions with a lot of heatwaves may have a higher rate of biological aging compared to people in cooler climates.

Chronological age is measured by counting the years a person has been alive. On the other hand, biological age refers to the health condition of cells and organs. This age can be influenced by various factors, including lifestyle, environment, nutrition, stress, and overall state of health.

In their study, scientists examined health data from over 3,600 American adults, aged 56 and above, living in various areas in the country. Scientists measured participants' biological age against temperature measurements of the region where each participant lives. Scientists discovered that those participants who were subjected to high temperatures had a higher rate of biological aging compared to those with lower temperatures.

According to scientists, continuous exposure to high temperatures leads to additional stress in the human body. When there is a heat wave, the human body works in extra effort in order to cool down through increased blood circulation and sweating. This constant additional stress will result in cell harm, inflammation, and damage of the DNA structure, which is associated with the aging process.

Extreme heat may place stress on the body, leading to changes in cells that can contribute to faster biological aging.

Epigenetic clocks are a new scientific method of measuring biological age based on changes in the chemical structure of the DNA.

The scientists discovered that people who lived in regions where there were heatwaves aged biologically more compared to those who lived in cooler regions of the same age. The age gap was a few months to even one year, depending on how often the participants experienced heat.

According to the medical community, older people are at particular risk due to the fact that they find it difficult to regulate body temperature. Individuals suffering from heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, or any other health issues are at high risk in such circumstances.

Scientists claim that the problem is growing due to climate change. These days, heat waves are longer and more common than before. With each day of rising temperatures, more and more people will be affected by this situation.

While the results of the study demonstrated a clear relationship between heat exposure and biological aging, the researchers underlined that the study does not imply that the effect of heat on the organism leads to accelerated aging. There are various other determinants, including air pollution, lifestyle, access to healthcare, and living conditions, that might affect biological aging.

Healthcare professionals advise people to drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day, wear light-colored clothes, and stay indoors or visit air-conditioned areas when experiencing excessive heat.

According to the researchers, further research is required to reveal how the effect of heat exposure is manifested at the cellular level and whether the process could be reversed. They expect that their findings would inspire governments and health institutions to create new measures for community protection during heat waves.

As global warming increases temperatures throughout the globe, experts argue that heat exposure protection is becoming one of the most urgent public health problems.