biostudies-literatureUnknown19(19)Mukhopadhyay BThe 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 greaterInternational journal of environmental research and public health12446https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9564637biostudies-literatureHeat Exposure, Heat-Related Symptoms and Coping Strategies among Elderly Residents of Urban Slums and Rural Vilages in West Bengal, India.PMC9564637Mukhopadhyay BWeitz CAfalseHeat Exposure, Heat-Related Symptoms and Coping Strategies among Elderly Residents of Urban Slums and Rural Vilages in West Bengal, India.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 greater2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep2025-04-19T13:20:45.751Z2025-04-19T13:20:45.751ZS-EPMC95646373623174610.3390/ijerph191912446