Heat Exposure, Heat-Related Symptoms and Coping Strategies among Elderly Residents of Urban Slums and Rural Vilages in West Bengal, India.

ABSTRACT: The impact of heat stress among the elderly in India-particularly the elderly poor-has received little or no attention. Consequently, their susceptibility to heat-related illnesses is virtually unknown, as are the strategies they use to avoid, or deal with, the heat. This study examined perceptions of comfort, heat-related symptoms, and coping behaviors of 130 elderly residents of Kolkata slums and 180 elderly residents of rural villages south of Kolkata during a 90-day period when the average 24-h heat indexes were between 38.6 °C and 41.8 °C. Elderly participants in this study reported being comfortable under relatively warm conditions-probably explained by acclimatization to the high level of experienced heat stress. The prevalence of most heat-related symptoms was significantly greater

SUBMITTER: Mukhopadhyay B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9564637 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature