Death By Snow

Photo provided by PubMed

By Abigail Medved
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Although the crisp fall and winter weather is inviting, venturing outside may lead to an unplanned hospital visit. 

With flu season, school in session and snow on the way, it is prime time for sickness to rear its ugly head. Although only one factor in disease transmission, temperature has a significant impact on how humans catch and handle illness.

A study by The Lancet shows, “Globally, 5,083,173 deaths were associated with non-optimal temperatures per year, consisting of 4,594,098 cold-related deaths and 489,075 heat-related deaths.”

Although extreme heat impacts human health, cold weather is significantly more impactful, leading to more detrimental risks. But not all winter illnesses are deadly. Seasonal illnesses like the flu are not usually fatal in children and young adults. Furthermore, the CDC reports that there are only about 1.2 deaths per 100,000 caused by influenza. However, the cold weather is the perfect environment for even harmless illnesses to spread. 

PubMed reports, “Prior literature suggests that cold temperature strongly influences the immune function of animals and human behaviors, which may allow for the transmission of respiratory viral infections…the highest risk of infection is attributable to a steep fall in temperature in a relatively warm environment.”

But humans’ decreased immunity during cold weather not only impacts households, it also affects hospitals and the healthcare workers who so carefully tend to the ill. 

In another study comparing temperature and insurance payouts, PubMed reports, “We find that extreme temperatures have particularly stronger positive effect on hospital admission and inpatient care utilization among older and poor patients.”

This “positive association,” represented in the charts provided, means that as the temperature drops, the number of hospitalized patients increases. A significant amount of this increase is represented by the elderly and lower-income individuals insured by Medicare and Medicaid, hence the fiscal impact of the cold and the crucial need for insurance payouts.

The availability of local hospitals and urgent care facilities is extremely important in areas that are prone to cold weather. Although most cold-related illnesses are harmless, there are cases in which the sickness becomes life-threatening and urgent medical care is required. The availability of insurance is also extremely important because low income may prevent some individuals from seeking the care they need. These issues should be addressed in local communities for the protection of the residents and the prevention of as many cold-related deaths as possible. 

The crisp weather of the seasons coming up is all fun and games until someone gets sick. The cold temperatures are the perfect environment for illness to spread and cause an unplanned hospital visit. Be sure to stay healthy during this chilly time of year!