Nonoptimal Temperature and Cardiovascular Health
Published: March 26, 2026
- Both heat and cold exposure increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, including myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure decompensation, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Climate change is intensifying these extreme temperature events, amplifying global cardiovascular risk.
- Mitigating temperature-related cardiovascular harm requires coordinated action across clinical care, public health, health systems, urban planning, and policy, alongside research to address knowledge gaps.
- Equitable interventions, such as access to cooling and warming centers, climate-resilient housing, and targeted risk communication, are essential to reducing temperature-related cardiovascular disparities.
Supporting Materials
Recommended Reading
- Guidance to Reduce the Cardiovascular Burden of Ambient Air Pollutants
- Built Environment Approaches to Increase Physical Activity
- Creating Built Environments That Expand Active Transportation and Active Living Across the United States
- Personal-Level Protective Actions Against Particulate Matter Air Pollution Exposure
- Importance of Housing and Cardiovascular Health and Well-Being