According to a new study, extreme rainfall events are linked to a higher risk of death, especially from heart and lung diseases.

Published in BMJ, the study analyzed data from 34 countries over four decades, providing insight into how intense rainfall impacts public health.

With climate change causing more frequent and severe short-term rainfall, the study found that days of extreme rainfall led to an 8% increase in deaths from all causes and a 29% increase in deaths from respiratory diseases. .

These effects were particularly noticeable in areas with less vegetation and stable climate, where risks were higher.

Researchers studied more than 109 million deaths from 645 locations between 1980 and 2020, examining how different intensities of rain affected mortality rates.

The most severe storms, which are expected to occur every five years, had the most significant impact on both cardiovascular and respiratory deaths.

Interestingly, some protective effects of moderate rainfall were found, possibly due to reduced pollution and fewer people going outside.

However, excessive rainfall caused damage to infrastructure, contaminated water and increased risk of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Dr. Dharmesh Shah, Founder and Director of Holistica World, commented on the study and said that when heavy rains occur, it usually creates high humidity and pollution in water sources, which in turn promotes the development of airborne and waterborne diseases. Is.

“Respiratory diseases, including asthma and pneumonia, also increase immediately after such a major weather event,” Dr Shah said.

According to Dr. Pratik Chaudhary, senior consultant, interventional cardiology, Asian Hospital, New Delhi, the infection during the rains acutely affects people who also have other diseases.

Dr Choudhary said, “It can lead to heart failure in people who have cardiovascular problems. These events of heavy rain also increase mental stress related to physical injuries and economic losses, leading to an increase in cardiovascular events.” it occurs.”

Although the research could not prove direct cause and effect, the findings highlight the growing need for public health strategies to deal with the growing health risks from climate-driven extreme weather events.

With climate change causing more intense rainfall around the world, experts say it’s important to act now to protect people’s health.