(PHILADELPHIA – June 23, 2024) – Are you one of the more than 100 million Americans who live somewhere that was (or still is) under a heat advisory?
As I write these words, the mercury is soaring. The world is reeling from the deadly impact of extreme heat and weather events. This is climate change in action. We are living it. And the thermometer-busting temperatures are just the tip of the (melting) iceberg.
Jocelyn Richards of Manassas, Virginia, is staying in Maine to escape the summer heat in the South. She suffers from Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) from past exposure to mold. Heat is a major trigger for her due to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a common component of CIRS.
Richards says, “Not only is the heat a major trigger, but heat releases VOCs [volatile organic compounds] from asphalt. It becomes unbearable even to walk outside or run errands because breathing from the VOCs in the air is so difficult. Along with other MCAS symptoms triggered by the heat like tachycardia, high blood pressure, and dizziness, it can quickly turn into a medical emergency if I’m out in the extreme heat for even half an hour.”
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