Research on the Impact of Heat Waves and Cold Spells on Cardiovascular Diseases

In the context of global climate change, extreme weather events, especially heat waves and cold snaps, are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. These phenomena pose a significant threat to human health, with patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) being the most vulnerable. This study, based on a systematic literature review and evidence-based medical analysis methods, deeply explored the complex association mechanisms between extreme weather events and cardiovascular diseases. The study found that extreme high temperatures and extreme low temperatures significantly increase the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases through multiple physiological pathways (including but not limited to heat stress response, cold stress response, activation of inflammatory factors, and changes in hemodynamics, etc.). The study also proposed comprehensive intervention strategies spanning individual, community, and national levels, suggesting that integrating climate adaptation capacity building with public health policy systems can effectively mitigate the adverse effects of extreme weather on CVD patients, thereby providing crucial evidence for the development of climate-resilient health policies.