A study tracking nearly 25,000 adults in Taiwan over 15 years has revealed that repeated exposure to extreme heat accelerates biological aging at rates comparable to smoking or heavy drinking. For each additional 1.3 degrees Celsius of cumulative heat exposure, participants age biologically by approximately 8 to 11 days. Particularly affected are manual laborers and rural residents, who demonstrate significantly higher aging effects, with outdoor workers experiencing biological aging of up to 33 days. The research indicates that heat exposure shortens telomeres and strains vital organs like the liver, lungs, and kidneys, increasing long-term disease risks. Although some adaptation to heat over the years was noted, the long-term damage remains significant. Researchers suggest that strategies such as hydration and cooling methods can mitigate these effects, but reversing accumulated damage from years of heat exposure is challenging. This highlights serious public health implications as climate change leads to more frequent heatwaves.

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