(task) Climate change will not reduce the deaths of senior citizens caused by winters | Times Gazette

GRS USRS NYRS No. Manhattan RN

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Climate change

> http://www.thetimesgazette.com/climate-change-will-not-reduce-the-deaths-of-senior-citizens-caused-by-winters/4020/ <http://www.thetimesgazette.com/climate-change-will-not-reduce-the-deaths-of-senior-citizens-caused-by-winters/4020/>
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> Climate change will not reduce the deaths of senior citizens caused by winters
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> There is no denying the fact that many senior citizens across the United States and in other parts of the world die in larger numbers during winters, but a new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health revealed that climate change and global temperatures will not overturn that trend.
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> Analyzing participants in 39 US states and France between 1971 to 2007, the researchers wanted to know just how winter or excessive cold temperatures contribute to mortality rates among the elderly; and utilizing data from the US National Center for Health Statistics and the French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, they found other factors contribute to the deaths of the aged during winter seasons.
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> According to the study’s lead author, Patrick L. Kinney, “Some have claimed that warmer winters due to climate change will lead to big reductions in winter deaths. Our work suggests that this is unlikely to be the case.”
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> Kinney revealed that apart from excessive cold temperatures, flu and respiratory conditions have a part to play in the deaths of the aged during winter seasons. He also added that low humidity, excessive time indoors, lack of exercise, and other related factors disturb people’s immunity during winter periods and contribute to higher mortality.
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> The truth however remains that even if winter may not be responsible for people’s death, winter makes people to exercise less and to spend more time indoors, which invariably play a role in their winter deaths.
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> “Unfortunately the holiday season probably plays a part,” Kinney added. “When older people mix with the younger generations of their families, they come into contact with all the bugs that the kids have brought home from school.”
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