A Comprehensive Review: Examining the Impact of Heatwaves on Health

This literature review examines the negative impacts of heatwaves on individual health, focusing on factors contributing to heatwaves, their effects on human health, and potential mitigation strategies. It discusses how climate change, distance from the sea, prevailing winds, and human activities contribute to the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves. The review highlights the risks to vulnerable populations, such as those with chronic diseases, and the impact on occupational health and mortality rates. Furthermore, it explores public health interventions and preparedness plans to reduce the adverse effects of heatwaves, comparing results from previous studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The study uses secondary data from books, journals, and articles to evaluate the impact of heatwaves and suggest recommendations for protecting individuals from their harmful effects. Desklib provides this and many other solved assignments for students.

A REVIEW ON THE NEGATIVE IMPACT
TO OVERALL HEALTH OF
INDIVIDUALS DUE TO HEATWAVES

ABSTRACT
Heatwave can be defined as a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more
than two days that occur with or without high humidity. It has potential of covering more market
areas, exposing to number of people and many more. Heatwave occur in country when the in
the atmosphere high pressure moves in and pushes warm air toward the ground, hence the air get
warmed up and pushes warm air to ground. Increase in heat result in causing heat exhausting,
heat stroke, and death, especially to vulnerable populations or individual that are being suffering
from chronic diseases. This dissertation has depicted crucial information related to “ impact of
heatwave on health of individual and the way it could be overcome for fruitful outcome. It has
also represented detail of factor that lead in heatwave within the country and the manner in
which they can be reduce for benefits of individual living within the society.

TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................5
Background .................................................................................................................................5
International statistic and evidence..............................................................................................5
Risk factors and protective factors link together and influence an individual ...........................5
Research Aim and objective .......................................................................................................6
Research question........................................................................................................................6
Rationale .....................................................................................................................................6
Structure of the thesis .................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................9
Theme 1: Factors that result in climatic change and production of heat waves..........................9
Theme 2: Reason for the production of heat waves because of the climatic change................11
Theme 3: Impact of health waves on human health.................................................................12
Theme 4: Ways through which the impact of heat waves will be reduced...............................13
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................15
Database used.............................................................................................................................15
Key search term:........................................................................................................................16
Search strategy:..........................................................................................................................16
PICO framework:.......................................................................................................................16
Research approach:....................................................................................................................17
Inclusion and exclusion criteria:................................................................................................17
Refining of the research:............................................................................................................18
CHAPTER 4 DISCUSSION .........................................................................................................20
Theme 1: Impact of heat waves on public and occupational health ........................................20
Theme 2: Impact of heat waves on vulnerable individual.........................................................21
Theme 3: Mortality due to heat waves .....................................................................................22
Theme 4: Contribute of Human contribution to the record-breaking heatwaves......................24
Theme 5: Implications for public health interventions..............................................................25
Comparing the results of previous studies.................................................................................26
......................................................................................................................................................28
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CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................29
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................32

CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION
Background
Heatwaves can be defined as period of unusual hot weather or extreme weathers that can
be as natural disaster or danger because of heat and sunlight may overheat the body of human
being. This are very common in summers when the high pressure develops across a particular
area and main reason for occurrence in United Kingdom is location of jet stream. In short, it can
be stated that the heatwaves result in causing heat cramps, death and heat stoke and several other
negative impact on the health and wellbeing of people (Arbuthnott and Hajat, 2017). It also
results in health issue related to cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, so government and
companies collectively needs to take steps to reduce heatwaves for benefits of all.
This is dissertation related to “evaluation of impact of heatwaves on the health of people
that are living in United Kingdom”. Furthermore, the study will help in understanding the
reason that results in heatwaves that have negative impact on individuals’ health. The impact of
heatwaves on health and well-being of people that are residing in United Kingdom. Along with
it, identifying the strategies or set of action that could be used by the government and other
organisation to reduce the impact of heatwaves for betterment of society (Campbell and et.al.,
2018). Therefore, the main purpose of dissertation is to identify the impact and strategies to cope
up with heatwaves for ensuring health of people.
International statistic and evidence
Moreover, it has been identified that the parched landscape of United Kingdom and
northwester of Europe 15 july, 2018 has face high heatwaves (Thompson and et.al., 2018).
Starting from 22 june 2018 to 7 August 2018 and 35.3 °C (95.5 °F) is recorded at Faversham,
Kent on 26 July 2018. Likewise, there are several heat waves lead in thousands of deaths from
hyperthermia and catastrophic crop failures and other negative impacts. These wages may be
span for several days to week and significantly caused weather related to mortality, impacting on
the development of the countries. In addition to this, extreme heart events trigger variety of heat
stress condition for example het stroke or serious heat related disorder.
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Risk factors and protective factors link together and influence an individual
There is numerous risk factor associated with the heat waves and climate changes such as
individuals that are suffering chronic diseases and take medicine on daily basis are more prone
to suffer from major health issue as compared to others. Dehydration, thrombogenesis and acute
cerebrovascular accidents are various risk factor that cause negative impact on health and well-
being of individuals that are living in the society. On the other hand, creating heat preparedness
plans, installing cool and green roofs and Planting trees to provide shade are different method
that could be used to reduce the risk of heat waves and climate change on individual.
Research Aim and objective
Aim
To evaluate the impact of heatwaves on the health of people that are living in United Kingdom.
Objectives
 To identify factors that result in climatic change and production of heat waves.
 To evaluate reason because of which heat waves are produced due to climatic changes:
 To analyse impact of health waves on human health.
 To identify ways through which impact of health waves upon human health can be
reduced.
Research question
 What are main factors that result in climatic change and production of heat waves?
 What are main reasons because of which heat waves?
 What are main impacts of health waves on human health?
 How impact of health waves upon human health can be reduced?
Rationale
The study on “evaluating the impact of heatwaves on the health of people that are living
in United Kingdom” is important because there are numerous changes in external environment
that adversely impacted on health and well being of individuals. In current scenario, United
Kingdom is experiencing increasing extreme weather condition such as from 2020, it is suffering
third warmest, eight sunniest and fifth wettest year on record. The main reason for occurrence of
heatwaves is that when a systems high atmospheric pressure moves into areas in the last two or

more days (Thompson and et.al., 2018). All this results in negative impact on health and well-
being of people in terms of causing issue such as dehydration, acute cerebrovascular accidents,
blood clots etc. So, the study pertaining to the same it significant as it will helps in finding out
what are the cause or reason of heatwaves. The method or strategies that could be used to reduce
the heatwaves for betterment of all individuals residing in United Kingdom.
Furthermore, on this topic of impact of heatwaves on health of individuals- there is no
study has been done or limited information. So, it will contribute in gathering more information
and taking right decision. At last, it can be stated that, it is rationale to conduct because it will
help government, companies and social enterprises to take decision to take corrective action in
order to reduce the pollution for overcoming the impact of heatwaves on human being (Guo and
et.al., 2017).
Structure of the thesis
Chapter 1- Introduction
This is first chapter of dissertation, that outline what all things that are being covered in
the study, its aim, objective and research questions and rationale. It also describes about the
structure of the dissertation and the way it will helps in driving necessary information related to
the subject areas.
Chapter 2- Literature review
The second chapter is related to literature review, that discussed about the published
information related to specific subject area. It is just summary of sources, information published
by well know author related to the subject areas. Therefore, it acts as evidence related to the
review of different author pertaining to specific areas or topic.
Chapter 3- Research methodology
The third chapter in dissertation is related to research methodology that describe about
the method or techniques that are used by the researcher to complete the study (Mayrhuber, and
et.al., 2018). Likewise, the whether the researcher has selected either qualitative and quantitative
study, primary and secondary and other method to effectively get information.
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Chapter 4- Data analysis
This is fourth chapter pertaining to the data analysis, that will contain all the information
related to the study through analysis and intepretating information that are present in secondary
source. Likewise, books, journals, articles and other that could be useful in taking decision
related to the study.
Chapter 5- Conclusion
The last chapter present in dissertation is conclusion that summarise all crucial points
related to the impact of heatwaves on human being. Moreover, suggested recommendation that
could be used by people and government to stay protected from high heatwaves that directly
impact on their well-being (Mayrhuber and et.al., 2018).

CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review can be defined as published information in particular subject, that act
as evidence pertaining to the existing study. So it is search and evaluation of available literature
in relation with current topic. The main objectives of doing the literature review related to the
study is that it helps in survey in the literature pertaining to the chosen study. Thus, it synthesis
information into the literature into summary. Present the literature in well organised manner so
that it can be easily understand by others in effective way. At last, it contributes in critically
analysing the information gathered through identifying current gap in existing knowledge and
areas in which further researcher needs to be proceed.
Theme 1: Factors that result in climatic change and production of heat waves
According to the, Thompson and et.al., (2020), across worldwide, the hot days are
getting more and more hotters and experiencing fewer cold days. Likewise, as per the daily
record high temperature twice a days, so heat waves are becoming more common as well as
intensive. Rising global climate changes has results in increasing overall temperature that has
negatively impacted on the health and well being of individuals that are living within the society.
In addition to this, there are many other reason that cause climate changes such as distance from
sea, likewise the coastal area are more cooler and wetter as compared to inland areas. When the
warm air flow from inland areas meet cooler air from the sea then the cloud are being
formulated so the centre of continents are subject to have large range of temperature. Such as in
summers the moisture from sea evaporates till it reach the centre of landmass so the temperature
start becoming too hot and dry.
Another author Hassan, Al-Jiboori and Al-Abassi (2020), also supported that the
direction of prevailing wind is also factor that lead changes in climate and production of heat
waves. Likewise, the win that start from the sea results in bringing more rain to coast and lead in
creating dry weather inland areas. So direction of wind in particular areas lead in causing
changes in the weather and climate. At the same time, the human being also had impact on the
climate changes such as with increase in population and mis-utilisation of resources that are
being done by the human being has resulted in influencing climate and flow of heat waves.
Industrial revolution that has been started from the end of 19 the century has negative effect on
climate as industry results is realising lot of pollution in external environment. That cause
adverse impact on health and well-being of individual that are residing in the society. Such as
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increased burning of fossil fuels has results in increase amount of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere, along with it number of teas has been cut down is increasing day by day that results
in causing less amount of carbon dioxide taken by the trees.
As per the views of Soutter and Mottus, (2020) global warming is one of the major
reasons that is related with the raise in the temperature and occurrence of climatic changes. With
the extent of global warming and raising the intensity of pollution in the environment because of
the human activities would lead to arise the climatic changes in the environment. With the aspect
of global warming the raise in temperature is one of the major phenomena that would result in
the raised temperature that may further impact the climate and bring climatic changes that may
further impact the human being and their life. As climate in the UK is raising because of the
continuous human related activities that may result in raised temperature and lead to the
climatic change in terms of extreme production of the heat waves. In the same way with the
production of heat waves the human being and its life is being impacted that may result in the
occurrence of various diseases and side effects.
In the same way Nordhaus, (2019) also said that with a raise proportion of carbon
dioxide in the nature the climatic change occur in the form of raised heat and temperature. With
the aspect of man- made activities use of vehicles, transformation of economy into industrialized
economy would lead to raise the emission of carbon dioxide that would further lead to raise the
temperature which is further related with the occurrence of climatic change in terms of emission
of heat waves and raising of the temperature in the environment. Since with the exposure and
production of high carbon dioxide in the environment would also count as major reason of the
greenhouse effect that would further lead to the raising in the temperature and the production of
heat waves across the UK which would further counted as major reason of the climatic change
and heat waves production.
On the other hand, Arbuthnott and Hajat, (2017) annotates that with the aspect of raised
temperature the heat waves are produced. This is because with the raising in temperature the
winds will be accumulated in an area that will lead to the rising of temperature and the
production of heat waves. This can be understood as with the aspect of air that circle the globe
with the large prevailing air and if it is trapped over a region then it will lead to raise in the
temperature which will be counted as a major reason for the production of heat waves that is
counted a highly harmful with respect to human life. This is because if the heat waves will be

gathered in an area then it will lead to rise in temperature which may impact the climate and the
human life in terms of occurrence of side effect including heat stroke, respiratory diseases and
various other.
Theme 2: Reason for the production of heat waves because of the climatic change
Tandon, Zhang and Sobel, (2018) annotates that climatic change is one of the major
reason that is related with the production of heat waves. This is because with the aspect of
climatic change the temperature in the environment will be raise that will lead to the production
of the heat waves which will be counted as a major reason for generation of heat waves in the
nature. This can be further explained by the author that when the system of high atmospheric
pressure will move from one place to another and then struck in an area for two or more than
two days. In such situation the air from upper atmosphere will enter into ground that will lead to
the raise in temperature of that area which will further be counted as a major impact and reason
of the high temperature and production of heat waves over a specified area or region. This all
phenomenon is related with the aspect of climatic change and reason which will lead to the
creation of such movement of atmospheric pressure that would further be counted as a major
reason of the heat waves production.
On the same way Larcom, She and van Gevelt, (2019) also elucidates that with the aspect
of climatic changes and raising of high temperature and creation of atmospheric pressure in the
environment lead to the production of heat waves across the area and the place. In case of UK
the location of Jet stream which persist in the north of UK in summer would be counted to the
production of pressure that will further lead to the production of heat waves in the UK. With the
aspect of Jet stream, the air pressure moves specially during the time of summer that will lead to
the creation of pressure which will lead to the movement of hot air in the area that will lead to
the raising and production of heat waves in UK that is further associated with climatic change.
Impact of heat waves on human health
Baldwin, and et.al., (2019) states that the heat waves have a major negative and severe
impact towards the heath of human being in terms of occurrence of various diseases and the
occurrence of side effects. Along with the occurrence of various heat illness and related diseases
it may lead to cause the respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This is because with the aspect
of high exposure of the heat waves an individual would be negatively impacted in terms of heat
strokes. This would be right to state that the heat waves would lead to lead to severely impact an
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individual in terms of moderate to severe diseases and negative impacts. In the same context it is
to be noted that the respiratory death that was made in the context of heat waves was relatively
high in comparison of the cardiovascular death.
On the other hand, Morabito, and et.al., (2017) also states that along with the aspect of
heath exposure and raising of the heat waves various other gases and elements in the
environment also raises that has resulted in the occurrence of various other diseases. As global
warming is one of the major reason of the raised temperature that would also lead to cause affect
the human being along with affecting the life of human being in terms of death and various
diseases. Heat cramps, death, heat stroke and various other are counted as some of the major side
effect of the raised temperature and heat waves.
Theme 3: Impact of health waves on human health
As per the perspective of Haines and Ebi (2019), global temperature, its frequency and
intensity of heat waves is rising in 21 centuries that has results in causing climate change.
Extended period of high days and night time temperature lead in creating cumulative
physiological stress on the human body. Likewise, it lead in causing high death across the
global, in terms of renal, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. For short time frame, the
large population can be acutely impacted because of heat waves such as it may often lead in
trigger of public health emergencies, excess mortality rate and lower work capacity and labour
productivity. Along with it, the author has furthermore specified that the heatwave also results in
loss of health service delivery capacity. This is because of power shortage that finally lead in
disruption of health transportation, water infrastructure and health facilities.
Moreover, Nuvolone, Petri and Voller, (2018), has specified that the awareness of the
health risk associated with the heatwave is insufficient and lead to increase in overall
temperature. Rising global ambient temperature has affected all the population, among which
some of the people are suffering more physiological stress, increased risk of death from excess
heat and exacerbated illness. The main examples of population that are exposed to risk of heat
waves are children, older people, manual worker and pregnant women. In addition to this, there
are main two reason for causing heat gain in the human body such as external heat from
environment and internal body heat that has been generated from metabolic process. Likewise,
the author wants to say that the rapid rise in heat gain by human will results in cascade of illness,