In the U.S., extreme heat waves are the most killing climate phenomenon. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that extreme heat kills more people each year than tornadoes, hurricanes or floods. This summer, once again the country was gused by high temperatures, with residents without air conditioning experiencing severe health problems, severe droughts and forests exposed to aggressive fires. This week, NASA unveiled new maps that help visualize the scale of the problem.

According to the agency, about 700 people die from heat-related causes in the United States each year, and 67,500 need to go to the emergency room, with approximately 9,200 hospitalizations. States such as Texas and Oklahoma reached 46C. In Utah, people suffocated for 16 straight days with temperatures above 38Degrees, according to the Daily Mail.

On the map, heat waves in the southeast, northeast and northwest are clearly visible. But what really stands out is the dark red present states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas in the southern plains. In total, more than 150 million people – almost half of the country – faced extreme heat warnings, Indepedent reports.

Heat exhaustion can lead to brain damage or even death, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Exposure to hot weather is also linked to increased risk of hospitalization for people with heart disease, worsening asthma symptoms, dehydration and even high levels of violent crime and suicide.

Due to the consequences of climate change, the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics warns that these incredibly hot summers are likely to become the new normal. "The extreme heat of summer is increasing in the United States. Climate projections indicate that these events will be more frequent and intense in the coming decades," says a statement from the agency.

Source: Um só Planeta